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With the 2024 general elections handing the <keyword id="19894848" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="BJP" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="BJP" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="BJP">BJP</keyword> and its allies a fractured, albeit ruling majority in the country for the third consecutive time, India is now gearing up for the 2024–25 <keyword id="19908389" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-budget" source="keywords">Union budget</keyword>, which will be presented on July 22 between 11 am and 1 pm. The <keyword id="20613906" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="economic-survey" source="keywords">economic survey</keyword> is traditionally presented the day before. However, as per reports, the economic survey is likely to be released on July 3rd this year. The famous halwa ceremony will take place 10 days before the budget is tabled. Pre-budget consultations will begin on June 17th. FM <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> will become the first finance minister to have presented seven straight budgets, a record previously held by <keyword id="238033" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Morarji-Desai" source="Orion">Morarji Desai</keyword>, who had six consecutive budget presentations to his name. To date, Sitharaman has tabled five full and one interim budget. The first parliamentary session under Modi 3.0 will kick off on June 24, and the 264th session of the parliament will take place between the 27th of June and the 3rd of August. The year is set to see two budgets: one full-fledged budget in July and an interim budget presented on February 1, 2024. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="What can we expect from this budget?" comment="subhead" text="What can we expect from this budget?">What can we expect from this budget?</cmsannotation> Presenting an interim budget is customary during election years in India since it facilitates the transfer of work and finances between the outgoing and incoming governments. With the upcoming budget, PM Modi’s government will largely focus on tackling unemployment, issues in the agriculture sector, and maintaining the flow of capital expenditure in the economy. The simplification of the <keyword id="19993914" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="GST-regime" source="keywords">GST regime</keyword> and rolling out the 3rd edition of the <keyword id="20359761" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="FAME-scheme" source="keywords">FAME scheme</keyword> (Faster Adoption &amp; Manufacturing of Electric Vehicles) will also rank highly on the budget agenda. In that stead, a meeting of the GST council is also scheduled to take place on June 22nd. Additionally, experts are also anticipating the expansion of the PLI (production-linked incentives) schemes in this budget to include other sectors as well. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Lesser-known budget milestones" comment="subhead" text="Lesser-known budget milestones">Lesser-known budget milestones</cmsannotation> Till 2019, the union budget was carried in a briefcase, a practice initiated by India’s first FM, Sir RK Shanmukham Chetty. In 2019, the budget was presented as a traditional bahi-khata for the first time. It went paperless in 2021 after the FM introduced the budget via a tablet. Apart from having presented most budgets, Sitharaman also holds the record for having delivered the longest budget speech while presenting the Union budget for 2020–21. She spoke for two hours and 42 minutes. On the other hand, India’s shortest-ever budget speech was given in 1977 by Hirubhai Patel.

Union budget 2024-25 : When will it be presented, what to expect and more

New Delhi [India], July 23 (ANI): <keyword id="19956758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Finance-Minister" source="keywords">Finance Minister</keyword> <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> is set to present the <keyword id="15626720" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Budget-2024" source="Orion">Union Budget 2024</keyword> in Parliament today, marking her seventh consecutive budget and eclipsing the late Moraji Desai's record of six consecutive budgets, which is likely to focus on changes in the income tax structure and improving the ease of doing business in India. At 11 am today, the much-awaited full budget for 2024-25, the first under the Modi 3.0 government, will be presented on the floor of the Parliament. All eyes will be on the major announcements made by the finance minister and the government's forward-looking guidance about the overall economy. Sitharaman will lay on the table a statement (in English and Hindi) of the estimated receipts and expenditures of the government for the year 2024-25 in the Rajya Sabha. <div type="Article" hostid="261" msid="111946291" title="Union Budget 2024-25: Focus on employment, skilling, MSME and middle class" mstype="2" mssubtype="0"></div>She will table the budget one hour after the conclusion of the presentation of the <keyword id="19908389" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Budget" source="keywords">Union Budget</keyword> 2024-25 in the Lok Sabha. The Finance Minister also lay on the table, under subsection (1) of Section 3 of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2003, a copy each (in English and Hindi) of the following papers: medium-term fiscal policy strategy statement and macro-economic framework statement. The Finance Minister will further lay on the table statements (in English and Hindi) of the estimated receipts and expenditures (2024-25) of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir (with the legislature). The interim budget, tabled on February 1, took care of the financial needs of the intervening period until a government was formed after the Lok Sabha polls, after which a full budget was to be presented by the new government. With this upcoming budget presentation, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will surpass the record set by former Prime Minister Morarji Desai, who presented five annual budgets and one interim budget between 1959 and 1964 as finance minister. The <keyword id="105431" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="budget-session" source="Orion">budget session</keyword> of Parliament began on July 22 and, according to schedule, will end on August 12. Before presenting the Budget, the finance minister will go to the North Block, where the Ministry of Finance is housed. She will meet the secretaries of her ministry, and later, along with them, she will reach the President's residence to get permission before presenting the Budget. About half an hour before the budget is presented, a Cabinet meeting headed by the prime minister is usually held, where ministers are briefed about the budget and Cabinet approval is taken. Putting aside the details of the upcoming budget, let us review the budget-making process and sequence of events typically followed. The Ministry of Finance typically issues circulars to all ministries, Union territories, States, and autonomous entities to send their demands and recommendations for the Union budget around September-October, with budgets typically tabled on February 1. Another key event before the budget presentation is the 'halwa ceremony'. A few days before the budget is presented, the government has a tradition of conducting a 'halwa ceremony', marking the start of budget document printing. The Halwa ceremony is significant as it also marks the beginning of a lockdown at the finance ministry, meaning no official is allowed to leave the ministry compound. Everyone on the budget team is allowed to leave only after the financial document is presented in Parliament. The printing of the Union Budget inside the basement located in the North Block has been a permanent feature since 1980. A day before the budget is scheduled to be tabled, the government typically releases its Economic Survey. This year, too, the same norms were followed. The Economic Survey serves as a crucial input for budget formulation. It is prepared by the Chief Economic Advisor and provides an overview of the country's economic performance, prospects, and policy recommendations, including future outlook. India is poised to remain the fastest-growing major economy in 2024-25, Chief Economic Adviser V Anantha Nageswaran said in a press conference after the tabling of the Economic Survey. The Economic Survey tabled projected India to grow at 6.5-7.0 percent in 2024-25. As per the Economic Survey 2023-24 tabled by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the Indian economy is on a strong and stable footing, demonstrating resilience in the face of geopolitical challenges. The first Economic Survey reportedly came into existence in 1950-51, when it used to be a part of the budget documents. In the 1960s, it was separated from the budget documents and presented a day before the Union Budget. The budget, once it is presented, is then subjected to detailed debate and discussion in both houses of Parliament, allowing members to scrutinise its provisions, raise concerns, and propose amendments. Following its presentation and approval by Parliament, the Union Budget sets in motion a series of post-budget activities aimed at implementing its provisions and achieving the outlined objectives. Like the previous few full Union budgets, the Budget 2024 will also be delivered in paperless form. An Interim Union Budget 2024 was presented on February 1, as the country was due for general elections later in the year. All the Union Budget documents, including the Annual Financial Statement (commonly known as the Budget), Demand for Grants (DG), and Finance Bill, as prescribed by the Constitution, will be available on the "Union Budget Mobile App" for hassle-free access to budget documents by Members of Parliament (MPs) and the public. The app is bilingual (English and Hindi) and available on both Android and iOS platforms. The app can also be downloaded from the Union Budget Web Portal (www.indiabudget.gov.in). SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/union-budget-2024-live-updates-finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-key-announcements-23-july/liveblog/111942008.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Union Budget 2024 Live Updates: PM Modi arrives in Parliament ahead of Budget 2024 presentation</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/budget/news/why-did-the-latest-economic-survey-of-india-heavily-shun-the-western-ways-of-climate-action/articleshow/111947230.cms" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">Why did the latest Economic Survey of India heavily shun the ‘Western ways’ of climate action?</a>

Here's a quick overview of PM Modi 3.0 government's first budget, to be presented by FM Nirmala Sitharaman today

New Delhi [India], July 21 (ANI): As the Union <keyword id="19956758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Finance-Minister" source="keywords">Finance Minister</keyword>, <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword>, is set to present her seventh <keyword id="19908389" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Union-Budget" source="keywords">Union Budget</keyword>, the <keyword id="21660910" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Monsoon-Session" source="keywords">Monsoon Session</keyword> of Parliament will commence on July 22. With the presentation of this year's budget, Sitharaman will establish herself as the first Finance Minister to present seven consecutive budgets, breaking the record of Morarji Desai's six budget presentations. Desai, who was the country's Finance Minister from 1959 to 1964, presented a record six budgets for the country, of which five were full budgets and one was an interim budget. Like the previous few full Union Budgets, <keyword id="15478236" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="budget-2024" source="Orion">Budget 2024</keyword> will also be delivered in paperless form. An Interim Union Budget 2024 was presented on February 1, as the country was due for general elections. As part of the <keyword id="20321465" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="budget-preparation" source="keywords">budget preparation</keyword>, the Finance Ministry has completed several rounds of deliberations with different stakeholders of the economy. These meetings started on June 20, during which Sitharaman met representatives from trade unions, the education and health sectors, employment and skilling, MSMEs, trade and services, industry, economists, the financial sector and capital markets, as well as representatives from the infrastructure, energy, and urban sectors. During the meetings, economists discussed several critical issues, such as boosting capital expenditure and reducing the fiscal deficit. The group of economists suggested to the ministry that the focus should be on reducing the fiscal deficit in the upcoming budget, along with the need to generate employment growth. The industry body, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), suggested that the government increase capital expenditure in the upcoming budget. The economists also emphasised the need to enhance capital expenditure. Farmer associations urged the Finance Minister to enhance the budgetary allocation for the agriculture sector. Representatives from the skilling and employment sectors suggested ways to skill the youth for better utilization of the workforce. This year's Monsoon Session will have 19 sittings until August 12. The Modi government is expected to present six bills, among which the Aircraft Act and Parliament's nod for the budget of Jammu and Kashmir are prominent. The government will also present the Finance Bill after the announcement of the budget on July 23. Among the other bills, the disaster management law, the Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024, the Boilers Bill, the Coffee (Promotion and Development) Bill, and the Rubber (Promotion and Development) Bill will be tabled in this year's Monsoon Session. The Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak 2024 will replace the Aircraft Act of 1934 and streamline regulations in the civil aviation sector, aiding industry players in the sector. The interim budget, tabled on February 1, addressed the financial needs of the intervening period until a government was formed after the Lok Sabha polls, after which a full budget was supposed to be presented by the new government in July. The Union Budget documents will be available on the "Union Budget Mobile App" for hassle-free access to budget documents by Members of Parliament (MPs) and the public. The app is bilingual (English and Hindi) and is available on both Android and iOS platforms. The app can also be downloaded from the Union Budget Web Portal (www.indiabudget.gov.in).

FM Sitharaman to present historic seventh consecutive Union Budget in paperless format

New Delhi [India], July 24 (ANI): A <keyword id="4261957" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="general-discussion" source="Orion">general discussion</keyword> on the <keyword id="19908389" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Budget" source="keywords">Union Budget</keyword> and the budget for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for the fiscal year 2024-25 will be held in the <keyword id="19895369" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Rajya-Sabha" source="keywords">Rajya Sabha</keyword> later on Wednesday. <keyword id="19956758" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="finance-minister" source="keywords">Finance Minister</keyword> <keyword id="19916618" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nirmala-Sitharaman" source="keywords">Nirmala Sitharaman</keyword> presented both the Union Budget and the <keyword id="22525621" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jammu-and-Kashmir-Budget" source="keywords">Jammu and Kashmir Budget</keyword> in the House on July 23. The discussion is crucial as both the budgets shape the financial direction of the country and the Union Territory, respectively. The Union Budget outlines the government's revenue and expenditure plans for the upcoming fiscal year, while the budget for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is a significant event considering the developmental needs. As per the list of businesses of the Rajya Sabha, the discussion on these two budgets will be convened later in the day. The discussion over these two budgets is expected to start in the second half of the day. According to the list of business of the Rajya Sabha, the ministers that are set to lay the papers on the table are Jayant Chaudhary for the Ministry of Education; Pankaj Chaudhary for the Ministry of Finance; Nityanand Rai for the Ministry of Home Affairs; and Sukanta Majumdar for the Ministry of Education. Besides, Rajya Sabha Secretary General PC Mody will lay on the table the Public Accounts Committee reports. This includes the 124th Report on Construction of Toilets in Schools by CPSEs; the 125th Report on Rejuvenation of the Ganga (Namami Gange); the 126th Report on Avoidable Payment due to Non-Charging of Service Tax/GST from the Passengers; and the 127th Report on Action Taken by the Government on the Observations and Recommendations of the Committee contained in their 46th Report (16th Lok Sabha) on Implementation of the Public-Private Partnership Project at Chhatrpati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai, among others. The reports were presented to the Speaker on February 23 and April 29, 2024, and to the Chairman, Rajya Sabha, on February 28 and May 13, 2024, before the dissolution of the 17th Lok Sabha. The Speaker had ordered the printing, publication and circulation of the reports. As per the business list of the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju will move the motion for election to the committee on the welfare of other backward classes. Kiren Rijiju will also move the motion for nomination to the committee on the welfare of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. The motion for nomination to the committee on public accounts will also be moved by Union Minister Rijiju in the House today. Moreover, Kiren Rijiju will move the motion for nomination to the committee on public undertakings. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2024-25 on Tuesday during the Monsoon Session of <keyword id="19895397" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Parliament" source="keywords">Parliament</keyword>. Nirmala Sitharaman became the first finance minister to present seven consecutive budget speeches, surpassing former prime minister Morarji Desai's record of six consecutive budgets as finance minister between 1959 and 1964. In her seventh budget, Nirmala Sitharaman outlined key priorities aimed at fostering economic growth and creating ample opportunities. These included productivity and resilience in agriculture, employment, and skilling and services. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the Union <keyword id="15478236" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="budget-2024" source="Orion">Budget 2024</keyword> presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. "This budget strengthens every section of society. It takes the country's poor, village and farmers on the path of prosperity," the prime minister said in a video message. The Prime Minister praised the budget, emphasising its potential for job generation by incentivizing the top 500 companies to recruit more youth and also induct interns. The PM said the budget would help India achieve its objective of becoming the third largest economy, besides laying a strong foundation for Viksit Bharat. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday also said the Union Budget 2024-25 is game-changing and will go down in history for coupling Bharat's economic growth with the torque of its youth power. He also lauded the government's decision to provide training and internship programmes to youth. The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, welcomed the Union Budget 2024 laid before Parliament on Tuesday. Calling the Union Budget 2024 a 'visionary document', Sonowal said, "The Union Budget, 2024 lays the roadmap for renewed and holistic growth towards Viksit Bharat. This visionary budget is aimed at empowering the 'Garib' (poor), 'Mahilayen' (women), 'Yuva' (youth), and Annadata' (farmers) so that the process of development reaches every citizen of the country." Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday that Union Budget 2024 stands out for its unprecedented push towards employment generation and powering small businesses.

Rajya Sabha to hold general discussion on Union Budget, Jammu and Kashmir Budget today

New Delhi [India], July 20 (ANI): The Monsoon session of <keyword id="6354721" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="parliament" source="Orion">Parliament</keyword> begins on Thursday amidst outrage over the situation in <keyword id="6359754" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="manipur" source="Orion">Manipur</keyword> with the Opposition demanding a statement from the Prime Minister of India. Parliamentary Affairs Minister <keyword id="145705" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="prahlad-joshi" source="Orion">Prahlad Joshi</keyword> has said that 31 bills will be taken up in the monsoon session. Among these include the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023. Other important legislations that are expected to be taken up in the Session are the Bill to replace the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, promulgated in May this year. The ordinance deals with the control of services in Delhi and was promulgated after the Supreme Court verdict on an appeal by the Delhi government. Parliamentary Affairs Minister yesterday said that 34 parties and 44 leaders participated in the all-party meeting convened by the government for smooth conduct of the monsoon session which will continue to till August 11 and will have 17 sittings. Other Bills on the agenda of the government include Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2019; DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019; Mediation Bill, 2021; Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2022 ; Multi-State Cooperative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2022; Repealing and Amending Bill, 2022; Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023; Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023; Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Third Amendment) Bill, 2022 (with respect to State of Himachal Pradesh); Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Bill, 2022 (with respect to State of Chhattisgarh); Postal Services Bill, 2023; National Cooperative University Bill, 2023; and Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The list also includes International Monetary Fund and Bank Bill, 2023; Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill, 2023 18; the National Dental Commission Bill, 2023; National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023; Drugs, Medical Devices and Cosmetics Bill, 2023; Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023; <keyword id="6357972" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="jammu" source="Orion">Jammu</keyword> and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023; Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023; Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023; Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023; Mines and Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023. Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2023; National Research Foundation Bill, 2023; Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Castes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023; Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and the Constitution (Jammu and Kashmir) Scheduled Tribes Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023 are also among the 31 bills on the agenda of the government. Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023, was approved by the Union Cabinet earlier this month. This government had withdrawn Personal Data Protection Bill from Parliament in August last and said that it will come up with a fresh bill. Supreme Court had ruled in 2017 that privacy is a fundamental right and the Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023, is a crucial pillar of the overarching framework of technology regulations being framed by the Centre. The previous version of the bill had come after an extensive consultation process with a Joint Parliamentary Committee also examining it. The government has held another round of consultations to frame the new bill. The Bill to replace the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Ordinance, 2023, seeks to establish the National Capital Civil Services Authority, which consists of the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary of Delhi, Principal Home Secretary of Delhi. The Authority will make recommendations to the Lieutenant Governor (LG) regarding transfers and postings of officials and disciplinary matters. While the government is expected to give push to its legislative agenda, the Opposition parties have planned to raise several issues including Manipur violence, railway safety, unemployment, inflation, India-China border standoff and trade imbalance between the two countries. Pralhad Joshi said the government has sought the Opposition's support in the smooth functioning of the Parliament during the Monsoon Session. "The government is ready to discuss all issues in the Monsoon Session. We have appealed to the Opposition parties to support in the smooth functioning of the Parliament," Joshi said after the all-party meeting yesterday. Some of the parties have planned to move an adjournment motion over Manipur violence among other issues on day one of the Parliament's Monsoon Session today. The opposition insisted that the discussion should take place in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Congress on Wednesday said that the party will raise Manipur violence during the session. "Today, in the beginning (of the meeting), I kept my point. Our first issue is the violence in Manipur. Prime Minister should come and answer in Parliament. We will bring adjourment motion over the matter tomorrow," Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Choudhary said after attending the all-party meeting. <keyword id="6355187" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="Orion">Lok Sabha</keyword> Speaker Om Birla also chaired a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee ahead of the session. He said, leaders of all parties have assured cooperation in the proceedings of the House. (ANI)

Parliament Monsoon session begins today; 31 bills likely to be taken up

New Delhi [India], September 18 (ANI): The five-day special session of Parliament is all set to begin on Monday during which the parliamentary proceedings will shift from the old to the adjacent new state-of-the-art building on September 19. Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs <keyword id="221548" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="pralhad-joshi" source="Orion">Pralhad Joshi</keyword> on Sunday stated that the Session will provide 5 sittings spread over a period of 5 days, besides informing that eight legislative items are likely to be taken up during this session. "Parliamentary journey of 75 years starting from Samvidhan Sabha - achievements, experiences, memories and learnings" will also be discussed. On Sunday, Vice President <keyword id="7889551" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="jagdeep-dhankhar" source="Orion">Jagdeep Dhankhar</keyword> hoisted the national flag atop "Gaja Dwar" of the new Parliament building. <keyword id="6355187" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="Orion">Lok Sabha</keyword> Speaker Om Birla was also present on the occasion. The Special Session of the Parliament will be held from September 18 to 22. After weeks of no information about the agenda, the government last week announced an agenda that included bills to be taken up for consideration and a discussion on "Parliamentary journey of 75 years starting from Samvidhan Sabha - achievements, experiences, memories and learnings". Earlier, on Sunday, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Joshi requested all parties for active cooperation and support for the smooth functioning of the two Houses of Parliament. The meeting of all the floor leaders of political parties in the Parliament was attended by various ministers including Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who is also Leader of the House in <keyword id="48510" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="rajya-sabha" source="Orion">Rajya Sabha</keyword>, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and Union Minister V Muraleedharan and 51 leaders from 34 parties. Joshi shared with leaders that there would be a photo session from 10.00 am to 10.45 am on September 19, 2023, followed by a function in the Central Hall starting at 11.00 am which will be graced by the Vice-President/Chairman, Rajya Sabha, the Prime Minister, Speaker, Lok Sabha, Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Leader of Largest Opposition Party in Lok Sabha and the Members of both the Houses of Parliament. After the conclusion of the function in the Central Hall, both Houses will meet in their respective Chambers in the New Parliament House. The announcement of the Special Session came as a surprise in political circles with the parties gearing up for assembly polls in five states later this year. Meanwhile, four bills including a bill to regulate the appointment, conditions of service, and term of office of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners are part of the legislative business of the government for the session. Apart from the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, introduced in Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon session on August 10, the list includes 'The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023' and 'The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023', already passed by Rajya Sabha on August 3. The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023 amends the Advocates Act, 1961, while the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023 repeals the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867. Besides, 'The Post Office Bill, 2023' has also been listed in the Lok Sabha business. The bill was earlier introduced in Rajya Sabha on 10 August 2023 and it repeals the Indian Post Office Act, 1898. (ANI)

Special session of Parliament set to begin today

<ul><li>Four bills including a bill to regulate the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner are part of the legislative business.</li><li>The list includes ‘The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023’ and ‘The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023’.</li><li>The announcement of the <keyword id="470217" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="special-session" source="Orion">Special Session</keyword> came as a surprise in political circles</li></ul> Prime Minister <keyword id="6354477" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi" source="Orion">Narendra Modi</keyword> said on Monday that this <keyword id="6354721" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="parliament" source="Orion">Parliament</keyword> session may be short in duration but is big on occasion, and is of "historic decisions". He urged all lawmakers to give maximum time to the special session of Parliament. "I urge all members to give maximum time to this special session of Parliament." "This Parliament session may be small in duration but is big on occasion, it is a session of historic developments," he added. In his remarks to the media ahead of the five-day session, Modi highlighted India's Chandrayaan-3 mission, the "unprecedented" success of its G20 presidency, the launch of 'PM Vishwakarma Mission' and inauguration of convention centre Yashobhoomi, asserting that many developments which have inspired the country and filled it with pride have taken place. There is an atmosphere of festivity and enthusiasm, and the country has been filled with renewed self-confidence, he said, asking parliamentarians to give maximum time to the short session. In an apparent reference to frequent protests by opposition members during previous sessions, often leading to disruptions of proceedings, Modi hoped everyone will shed shortcomings and carry the goodness as they move into the new building of Parliament on Ganesh Chaturthi on Tuesday. The Parliament session begins Monday and will end on Friday. On the Parliament's agenda On Sunday, the meeting of all the floor leaders of political parties in the Parliament was attended by various ministers including Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who is also Leader of the House in <keyword id="48510" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="rajya-sabha" source="Orion">Rajya Sabha</keyword>, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and Union Minister V Muraleedharan and 51 leaders from 34 parties. There is a photo session scheduled from 10.00 am to 10.45 am on September 19, 2023, followed by a function in the Central Hall starting at 11.00 am which will be graced by the Vice-President/Chairman, Rajya Sabha, the Prime Minister, Speaker, <keyword id="6355187" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="lok-sabha" source="Orion">Lok Sabha</keyword>, Leader of the House in Rajya Sabha, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha and Leader of Largest Opposition Party in Lok Sabha and the Members of both the Houses of Parliament. After the conclusion of the function in the Central Hall, both Houses will meet in their respective Chambers in the New Parliament House. The announcement of the Special Session came as a surprise in political circles with the parties gearing up for assembly polls in five states later this year. Bills that may come up Meanwhile, four bills including a bill to regulate the appointment, conditions of service, and term of office of the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners are part of the legislative business of the government for the session. Apart from the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, introduced in Rajya Sabha during the Monsoon session on August 10, the list includes ‘The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023’ and ‘The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023’, already passed by Rajya Sabha on August 3. The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023 amends the Advocates Act, 1961, while the Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023 repeals the Press and Registration of Books Act, 1867. Besides, ‘The Post Office Bill, 2023’ has also been listed in the Lok Sabha business. The bill was earlier introduced in Rajya Sabha on 10 August 2023 and it repeals the Indian Post Office Act, 1898. (With text inputs from IANS, PTI and ANI)

PM Modi says Parliament's session may be short but 'big on occasion' — schedule and what's on the agenda

<ul><li>India’s crypto bill has not been listed as one of the legislative matters up for discussion during the <keyword id="662516" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="monsoon-session-of-Parliament">Monsoon Session of Parliament</keyword>, which will begin on July 19.</li><li>According to <keyword id="5924793" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="indiatech">IndiaTech</keyword> CEO, Rameesh Kailasam, the government is still in the process of determining whether or not to set up a new committee.</li><li>The government is seeking middle ground and not an all-out ban on cryptocurrencies, as proposed by the crypto bill that was supposed to be tabled during the Budget Session of Parliament earlier this year.</li></ul>India’s uncertainties around cryptocurrencies won’t be going away anytime soon. The Monsoon Session of Parliament, which is set to kick off next week on July 19, <a href="http://loksabhadocs.nic.in/bull2mk/2021/12.07.2021.pdf">does not list</a> virtual currencies as a matter that could ‘tentatively’ be up for discussion. “The likelihood of the bill getting placed in the parliament during the upcoming session is limited,” Rameesh Kailasam, the CEO of IndiaTech, told Business Insider. “The government seems to be still in the process of determining the way forward, which may through either an existing committee or a new one with industry consultation where required." <div type="javascript" title="Custom" contenttype="Image"><cdata><![CDATA[<div class="flourish-embed flourish-chart" data-src="visualisation/6724925"></div>]]></cdata></div> India’s Finance Minister, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/indias-new-crypto-regulations-are-ready-for-the-monsoon-session-of-parliament-according-to-sitharaman/articleshow/84168068.cms">Nirmala Sitharaman</a>, had hinted earlier this month that all the <a href="https://wazirx.com/signup?invite=2kpah6gr&amp;utm_source=business-insider&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=microsite">crypto</a> bill needed was approval by the Cabinet — the supreme decision-making body of the Indian government — before being put up for debate in Parliament. The bill’s absence from the roster implies that either the Cabinet did not have time to go through the bill or it was sent back to the Ministry of Finance for revision. And, according to Kailasam, India’s apex banking institution — the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) — and the Indian government may not be on the same page anymore. "Considering the Supreme Court had lifted the ban on cryptocurrencies and subsequently the onus was on RBI and the government of India to bring in necessary regulations. Therefore a ban route may not be ideally plausible," he said. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="There’s a new committee to regulate cryptocurrencies in the making" comment="subhead" text="There’s a new committee to regulate cryptocurrencies in the making">There’s a new committee to regulate cryptocurrencies in the making</cmsannotation> Any regulation around <a href="https://wazirx.com/signup?invite=2kpah6gr&amp;utm_source=business-insider&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=microsite">cryptocurrencies</a> will require participation from multiple ministries. The earlier committee, headed by the former Finance Secretary Subhash Garg, had stakeholders from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), and the RBI. “The government seems to be looking at this afresh considering that there needs to be a different take on how to regulate cryptocurrencies rather than push for an outright ban” said Kailasam. So, if the bill has to be rewritten, there needs to be a new committee put in place. Back in May, the <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/govt-may-set-up-new-panel-to-study-crypto-regulations/articleshow/82746324.cms">Economic Times</a> had also reported that a new panel may be being set up to study India’s crypto regulations. Once members are finalised, the committee will then draft a new version of the bill, which will have to be approved by the Ministry of Finance followed by the Law Ministry. And, that’s when the Cabinet finally gets a look at it. If the Cabinet wants revisions, the bill goes back to the committee — but even if they approve it, it can’t just be presented in Parliament. It has to first be put up for public consumption and take in any comments or suggestions. It’s only once it manages to get through all that red tape can the bill finally be listed for approval by Parliament. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="The Indian government may be softening its stance on cryptocurrencies — RBI still unsure" comment="subhead" text="The Indian government may be softening its stance on cryptocurrencies — RBI still unsure">The Indian government may be softening its stance on cryptocurrencies — RBI still unsure</cmsannotation> The RBI does not have a history of being crypto-friendly. In 2018, it <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/crypto-angadias-rbis-crypto-ban-might-incentivise-human-tellers-for-cryptocurrency-transactions/articleshow/63644805.cms">restricted banks</a> from engaging in crypto transactions or providing crypto services — a ban that was overturned in 2020 by the Supreme Court, which deemed it ‘<a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/cryptocurrency-trading-can-restart-in-india-after-top-court-removes-rbi-ban-calling-it-unconstitutional/articleshow/74470872.cms">unconstitutional</a>’. However, the apex banking institution has refrained from giving its blessing to private cryptocurrencies. As a result, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/indias-banks-started-withdrawing-services-from-crypto-exchanges-earlier-this-month/articleshow/83109454.cms">most banks in the country</a> have also chosen to keep their distance from crypto exchanges and other services. In March, during the Budget Session of Parliament, the government had <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/indian-cryptocurrency-players-in-huddle-as-government-mulls-ban/articleshow/80610668.cms">planned</a> to introduce a bill that would allow the RBI to set up a centralised cryptocurrency while also banning all ‘private’ cryptocurrencies. “When the crypto bill was going to be introduced during the Budget Session of Parliament, both the RBI and the government may have been on the same page,” Kailasam explained. “But now — with the traction digital assets have gained over the last six months, detailed industry recommendations , and the Supreme Court’s judgement to ‘not’ ban cryptocurrencies in the limelight — the government is looking for a middle path with regulation.” The crypto industry has also been looking for new ways to reach out to the government, like forming a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/indian-crypto-exchanges-are-eyeing-more-industry-bodies-to-expand-influence/articleshow/83742929.cms">second lobby under IndiaTech</a>, to push for self-regulation. <a href="https://forum.businessinsider.in/">For a more in-depth discussion, come on over to Business Insider Cryptosphere</a> — a forum where users can deep dive into all things crypto, engage in interesting discussions and stay ahead of the curve. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/binances-compliance-journey-gets-bumpier-as-another-partner-backs-out/articleshow/84373786.cms">Binance’s compliance ‘journey’ gets bumpier as another partner backs out</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/a-single-bitcoin-transaction-has-a-bigger-carbon-footprint-than-100000-hours-of-youtube-videos/articleshow/84373569.cms">A single Bitcoin transaction has a bigger carbon footprint than 100,000 hours of YouTube videos — here’s how the crypto industry wants to fix that</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/south-korean-banks-are-finding-a-way-to-hold-onto-cryptocurrencies-without-having-to-touch-the-asset-itself/articleshow/84349075.cms">South Korean banks are creating custody companies to deal with cryptocurrencies — without having to touch the asset itself</a>

India's crypto bill is unlikely to be up for discussion this month — and it may be a while before we see it in Parliament

<ul><li>The monsoon session of the <keyword id="145182" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Parliament">Indian parliament</keyword> began on July 19 and is almost half way through.</li><li>Several pressing matters have been raised during this session regarding the COVID-19 situation, farmers' protest and more.</li><li>However, when faced with questions, the government has cited lack of data on at least four issues listed below.</li><li>The session is scheduled to close on August 13 and several other matters like Pegasus spyware are yet to be discussed.</li></ul>It has already been more than 10 days since the Indian parliament kicked off its monsoon session on July 19, 2021. Lot of important questions have been raised over several long hours of discussions and brawl, however, not all have been answered. From death due to oxygen shortage during the pandemic to cryptocurrency investments, these are the pressing issues for which the <keyword id="44734" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Government">Indian government</keyword> has simply slid past saying it has no data in hand. ‘No one died due to oxygen shortage’ If the first wave of COVID-19 brought Indian healthcare system to its knees, the second one was a blade on the neck. The South Asian country witnessed the worst healthcare crisis in its history, with people looking for hospital beds, oxygen cylinders and concentrators, COVID-19 medicines and other necessary equipment over Twitter. Many lost their lives in this struggle. However, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Bharati Pravin Pawar in the Rajya Sabha, a day after the monsoon session began,<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/parliament-proceedings-no-deaths-reported-due-to-lack-of-oxygen-health-ministry-tells-rajya-sabha/article35428791.ece"> said</a>, “no deaths due to lack of oxygen have been specifically reported by states/union territories’ during the second wave of COVID-19. This led to a nationwide outrage. ‘Farmers death, what?’ The farmers of <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> took to streets in September 2020, after the government passed three farm acts. On 30 November 2020, an estimated crowd of 200,000 to 300,000 farmers were walking to the national capital of Delhi to make their voices heard. The protest went on for close to ten months, however the government has no data on how many people have lost their lives during this course. As per a press release issued by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (Joint Farmers’ Force), a coalition of over 40 farmers’ unions, 537 farmers have died in the agitation till date. SKM has also updated the<a href="https://humancostoffarmersprotest.blogspot.com/2020/12/list-of-deaths-in-farmers-protest-at.html"> list of farmers</a> who have died during the protest since November 24 last year. However, the Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Narendra Singh Tomar, in the parliament, said that the government has no record of farmers having died or fallen ill during the protests. ‘Black money is white money painted in a different colour’ Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech of 8 November 2016, while announcing the demonetisation of some currency notes, was a historical moment against black money in India. <div type="ExtQuote" text="“To break the grip of corruption and black money, we have decided that the five hundred rupee and thousand rupee currency notes presently in use will no longer be legal tender from midnight tonight, that is 8th November 2016. This means that these notes will not be acceptable for transactions from midnight onwards. The five hundred and thousand rupee notes hoarded by anti-national and anti-social elements will become just worthless pieces of paper.”" auname="— Narendra Modi, demonetisation speech of 2016."></div> He also highlighted the government passed a law 'The Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015', soon after taking over the office, for disclosure of foreign black money. The country had signed agreements with many countries, including the USA, to add provision for sharing banking information. Cut to 2021, there is no data available. The Minister of State for Finance, Pankaj Chaudhary, has informed that there is <a href="https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-no-official-estimate-of-black-money-stashed-in-swiss-banks-centre-tells-parliament-2902569">no official </a>estimate of the amount of black money deposited in Swiss banks in the decade. According to data shared by Switzerland's central bank, Indian individuals and firms have deposited over CHF 2,554.7 million or<a href="https://scroll.in/latest/997838/indian-deposits-in-swiss-banks-rise-to-over-rs-20700-crore-highest-in-13-years"> ₹20,700 crore</a> in Swiss Banks in 2020. All of this may not be black money, but it’s a good data point to begin with. The Indian government, in 2019, said that it has an information sharing agreement with the Swiss authorities. Yet they have no data to show in 2021. ‘Cryptocurrency bill on the way, but no data yet’ Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman informed the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) on July 27 that the government does not collect any information on the number of cryptocurrency exchanges and investors in India. It does sound fair, but not when the government of India has been pushing to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/indias-crypto-bill-is-unlikely-to-be-up-for-discussion-this-month-and-it-may-be-a-while-before-we-see-it-in-parliament/articleshow/84401863.cms">regulate cryptocurrency</a> in India since 2019. As per the <a href="https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/economy/no-information-collected-on-number-of-crypto-exchanges-and-investors-in-india-finance-minister-nirmala-sitharaman-7232611.html">data </a>shared by crypto exchanges, there are about 15 million Indian cryptocurrency investors, with holdings worth ₹15,000 crore ($2 billion) cumulatively. There are 350 startups that operate in the blockchain and crypto space, as per the crypto currency exchanges. Besides this, Sitharaman also mentioned that the government of India has no information on drug trafficking and money laundering that is being carried out through crypto exchanges. ‘No one dies due to manual scavenging’ No deaths have been reported due to manual scavenging in India over the last five years, the minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale said in the Rajya Sabha on <a href="https://thewire.in/government/centre-says-no-death-reported-due-to-manual-scavenging-activists-decry-govt-response">July 29</a>. If only, the ministry had thought of going through this year’s budget session thoroughly. Athawale, during his own speech during the budget session, highlighted<a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/340-sewer-cleaning-deaths-in-past-5-years-government/article33732992.ece"> 340 people </a>died while cleaning sewers and septic tanks in the last five years till December 31, 2020. He also noted that 66,692 manual scavengers have been identified across the country. ‘Information on witnesses killed, turned hostile not maintained centrally’ The Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai, has informed the parliament that the government has no data of the cases where key witnesses were killed or turned hostile. “The Witness Protection Scheme, 2018 provides that the witness protection measures ordered shall be proportionate to the threat and shall be for a specific duration not exceeding three months at a time," Rai added. However, these cases are fairly common in India. In March 2021, the family and lawyers of the 19-year-old Dalit girl who was allegedly gang raped and murdered in Hathras in 2020, were <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/allahabad-high-court-on-threats-to-hathras-family-will-consider-shifting-trial-2395571#:~:text=The%20affidavit%20said%20that%20the,stated%20that%20it%20was%20%22evident">threatened </a>before the special court where the case was pending. ‘Hospital beds data not available’ The Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar, informed that the government of India does not centrally maintain the data of hospital beds. This is majorly because health is a state subject, meaning it's up to the governments in states and union territories (UT) to increase the bed strength in their hospital. Despite this, Pawar shared that India has an isolation and ICU bed capacity of 18.21 lakh and 1.22 lakh, respectively. If the government had data on isolation and ICU beds, then the question remains why doesn’t it have information on hospital beds. ‘No data available for MSMEs that went under’ When the member of parliaments (MPs) asked the government for details on the number of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which shut down during the pandemic. Instead of the data, the government listed the steps taken by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for extension and restructuring of credit. It even cited two surveys, which stated 88% of MSMEs were affected by the pandemic. ‘No data on deaths due to air pollution’ Minister of State for Environment, Forest And Climate Change Ashwini Kumar Choubey informed the parliament that they do not have any conclusive data to establish a direct correlation of death/disease exclusively due to air pollution. According to ‘States of India: The Global Burden of Disease Study 2019’ <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/17-million-deaths-in-india-were-attributable-to-air-pollution-in-2019-says-study/article33394600.ece">report</a>, nearly 1.7 million deaths in India were attributed to air pollution in 2019. This was 18% of the total deaths in the country. ‘No updates on how many lost jobs during second wave of COVID-19’ A few MPs asked the government for details on the number of casual or contractual employees who lost their jobs during the second wave of COVID-19. However, the government did not share any such details. Instead, it listed out several initiatives undertaken by the government to boost hiring. [This is a developing story. The article will be updated as the government shares more details about the lack of data in their repository.] SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/droom-automobile-marketplace-raises-200-million-in-a-pre-ipo-round-at-unicorn-valuation/articleshow/84818567.cms">Automobile marketplace Droom is raising $200 million in a pre-IPO round at unicorn valuation</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/the-whole-truth-a-healthy-packaged-food-brand-raises-6-million-from-sequoia-capital/articleshow/84815594.cms">The Whole Truth, a ‘healthy’ packaged food brand, raises $6 million to enter new categories</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/rolex-rings-ipo-opens-on-july-28-and-closes-on-july-30-with-a-price-band-of-880-900/articleshow/84813639.cms">Rolex Rings IPO opens today with a price band of ₹880-900</a>

There are at least 10 hot issues in India that the government has no data for

<ul><li>The Monsoon parliamentary session is set to kick off in India today with ministers adhering to social distancing and the houses of Parliament meeting in two shifts. </li><li>A total of 47 items will be up for discussion in 18 sittings spread out over the next 18 days. </li><li>The India-China border issue isn’t on the docket, but the opposition has said it plans to question the Prime Minister Narendra Modi about some of the statements that he has made with respect to the situation.</li></ul>The Monsoon parliamentary session begins today, and the border dispute between India and China will be a hot topic of discussion between the ruling party and the opposition — the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress. According to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, the <keyword id="662516" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="monsoon-session-of-Parliament">Monsoon session of Parliament</keyword> will include 18 sittings spread across 18 days with a total of 47 items on the docket - 45 bills and two financial items. Meanwhile, the opposition plans to bring up India’s border issue with China for debate today. On Sunday, Congress chief Jairam Ramesh told reporters that the party along with other like-minded cohorts would be raising the issue of what’s happening at the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the state of the Indian economy, and how things were managed during the coronavirus pandemic — in addition to opposing four of the proposed ordinances. “We need a discussion on China. Parliament is a place for debate and discussion, not for running away,” he said. However, the BJP is reportedly prepared. Sources told <a href="https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/government-likely-to-make-statement-on-china-standoff-in-monsoon-session-of-parliament-2294696">NDTV</a> that the government is likely to make a statement during the Monsoon session. Just last week, Indian Foreign Minister <keyword id="491850" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="S-Jaishankar">S Jaishankar</keyword> and his Chinese counterpart, Wi Yang, agreed on the five-point plan to de-escalate matter along the border. “The current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side. The border troops of both sides should continue their dialogue, quickly disengage, maintain proper distance and ease tensions,” said the statement issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs. Experts weigh in Experts point out that the shift in the narrative after a four-month face-off in Ladakh could only be temporary in order to throw water in a heated situation. “Given a chance, both armies would want to avoid that (war),” retired Lieutenant General Vinod Bhatia told the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-54113621">BBC</a>. Chinese media is also busy poking holes with the narrative that the diplomatic and military narratives of India seem to be at odds. Qian Feng, director of the research department of the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University in China, wrote “Some experts pointed out that narratives and moves from India's Ministry of External Affairs seem to differ from the Indian Ministry of Defense, and they hold an unclear attitude on whether India will carry out the consensus,” in the <a href="https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1200756.shtml">Global Times</a>, a Chinese state-run herald. Congress to question Modi’s remarks According to Ramesh, India’s situation concerning China has ‘weakened’ due to some of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statements — like the ‘no-intrusion’ remark back in June after the Galwan Valley clash that left 20 Indian soldiers dead and an undisclosed number of casualties on the Chinese side. “The greatest damage to our cause has been done by the Prime Minister’s own statement. He owes an explanation,” said Ramesh. The Prime Minister’s Office later issued a clarification that the media was twisting Modi’s words and putting out a ‘mischievous interpretation’. The statement asserted that Modi does recognise that over 43,000 square kilometers of territory “had been yielded under circumstances with which this country is well aware.” While the India-China border dispute will certainly be on the docket, the question remains on how much time will it take away from bills and ordinances that are up for debate. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/education/news/iiits-of-surat-bhopal-bhagalpur-agartala-and-raichur-will-be-up-for-debate-during-the-monsoon-parliament-session-2020/articleshow/78057767.cms">The fate of five IIITs will be up for debate during the Monsoon Parliament Session 2020</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/policy/foreign-policy/news/india-and-japan-sign-10-year-military-pact-to-counter-china-in-the-indo-pacific-strengthening-the-quad/articleshow/78055166.cms">India and Japan sign 10-year military pact to counter China in the Indo-Pacific — strengthening the QUAD</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/rajanth-singh-bipin-rawat-ajit-doval-and-three-army-service-chiefs-to-discuss-india-china-border-issue-today/articleshow/78053222.cms">Rajanth Singh, Bipin Rawat, Ajit Doval and three Army Service Chiefs to discuss India-China border issue today</a>

India-China border tension will be in focus as the Parliament's Monsoon session begins today

<ul><li>India’s <keyword id="2721952" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="crypto">crypto</keyword> bill has been in the works for over two years now.</li><li>The bill was earlier expected in the Budget session of the Parliament. It recommended banning of private cryptocurrencies and was supposed to layout a framework for digital currency by the RBI.</li><li>Crypto exchanges in India had to stop taking rupee deposits in the past.</li></ul>India is inching closer to regulating <a href="https://wazirx.com/signup?invite=2kpah6gr&amp;utm_source=business-insider&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=microsite">cryptocurrencies</a> within its borders. The country’s Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman told <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/plugging-gaps-in-gst-was-not-a-roving-expedition/article35070324.ece">The Hindu</a> that India’s crypto bill is ready and the government has taken inputs from industry stakeholders to prepare the document. “We have done a lot of work on it. We have taken stakeholders’ inputs. The Cabinet note is ready. We have to see when the Cabinet can take it up and consider it so that then we can move it," she said in her interview. That could mean that the new laws to regulate cryptocurrencies in India could be up for debate during the next session of the Parliament, which is set to kick off on July 19. The bill was also listed for the Budget session of the Parliament — which takes place from February to March — but wasn’t tabled at the time, possibly because the session had to be cut short due to the second COVID-19 wave that hit the country at the time. <div type="ExtQuote" text="From our side, I think one or two indications that I have given is that at least for fintech, experiment and pilot projects a window will be available. The Cabinet will have to make a decision." auname="Nirmala Sitharaman, India's Finance Minister, told The Hindu Business Line"></div> The Indian government's stance on crypto remains unclear The bill that was expected to debut during the Budget session of Parliament was expected to pitch for a ban on all 'private cryptocurrencies', and also lay out the framework for a central bank digital currency (CBDC) — or a digital version of the rupee. At the time, many expected that the bill would be a version of the regulations <a href="https://www.livemint.com/market/cryptocurrency/whats-in-store-for-the-country-s-crypto-industry-11616432928274.html">seen</a> in a draft legislation that was announced back in 2019, which banned most crypto exchanges and firms in the country. But, the government has flip flopped on its stance when it comes to digital currencies. In the past, Sitharaman has said that the government is <a href="https://www.livemint.com/market/cryptocurrency/fms-push-for-calibrated-approach-on-crypto-trading-calms-frayed-nerves-11615112421872.html">considering</a> a 'calibrated' approach to crypto. Things came to a head in May though, when an informal guidance from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) led banks to withdraw services from <keyword id="6357017" type="DEFINITION" weightage="20" keywordseo="cryptocurrency">cryptocurrency</keyword> exchanges. As a result, <a href="https://wazirx.com/signup?invite=2kpah6gr&amp;utm_source=business-insider&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=microsite">crypto exchanges</a> in India had to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/users-not-able-to-deposit-money-on-indian-crypto-exchanges-right-now/articleshow/82831355.cms">stop taking rupee deposits</a> from users. While workarounds have been found by many exchanges, there’s still confusion about how Indians will trade in crypto in the future. Some banks had also sent out warnings to users who had dealt with crypto exchanges. According to a <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/markets/cryptocurrency/bitcoin-becoming-the-new-gold-as-indians-pour-billions-into-crypto/articleshow/83909304.cms">report</a> by crypto research firm Chainalysis, investments in crypto grew from $200 million in 2019 to $40 billion in 2020, signalling huge interest in digital currencies. But experts, industry stakeholders and users remain confused about what the future of these currencies will be in the country. <a href="https://forum.businessinsider.in/">For a more in-depth discussion, come on over to Business Insider Cryptosphere</a> — a forum where users can deep dive into all things crypto, engage in interesting discussions and stay ahead of the curve. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/cryptocurrency/news/bitcoin-org-gets-hit-by-ransomware-with-hackers-asking-for-bitcoin-in-exchange/articleshow/84167163.cms">One of the oldest Bitcoin websites on the net was hit by ransomware, and hackers want their payment in Bitcoin</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/groovy-earned-15-crores-just-by-selling-juices-during-covid-19-pandemic/articleshow/84166874.cms">A startup that earned ₹15 crore selling juices in India’s suburbs is now looking at international expansion</a>

India's new crypto regulations are ready for the monsoon session of parliament, says the country's Finance Minister

<ul><li>Defence Minister <keyword id="6355121" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Rajnath-Singh">Rajnath Singh</keyword> is scheduled to address the Lok Sabha today on the border tensions between India and China. </li><li>The development comes even as China is reportedly laying down fibre cable near <keyword id="837007" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Pangong-Tso-Lake">Pangong Tso lake</keyword>, the latest hotspot between the two countries, for more secure communication. </li><li>The <keyword id="6354416" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Army">Indian Army</keyword>, on the other hand, still relies for radio communications. </li></ul>It’s day two of the Indian Parliament's Monsoon session, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is scheduled to address an issue that has many on the edge of their seat — the border tensions between India and China. At the Business Advisory Committee that met on Sunday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi had said that the statement will be made keeping in mind the “sensitivities of the situation and the strategic points.” The development comes as China is laying down fibre cable along the banks of Pangong Tso in Eastern Ladakh — the most recent hotspot after Galwan Valley, where both sides are locked in a stand-off — to bolster their communications ahead of winter setting in, according to <a href="https://in.reuters.com/article/us-india-china/india-says-china-laying-cables-to-bolster-communications-at-border-flashpoint-idUSKBN26525E">Reuters</a>. Fibre cable trumps radio communication Fibre cable is a more secure form of communication than radio communications, which the Indian Army uses. It would allow frontline troops to communicate with their bases without being heard. The radio communication that the Indian Army uses is encrypted — so not just anyone can tap into what is being said — but it does raise the likelihood of being intercepted. Officials told Reuters that the progress of laying down these fibre cables is happening at ‘breakneck speed’. Just last week, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, having agreed on a 5-point plan to de-escalate tensions along their shared border on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet in Moscow. <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/defense/news/rajanth-singh-bipin-rawat-ajit-doval-and-three-army-service-chiefs-to-discuss-india-china-border-issue-today/articleshow/78053222.cms">Singh also met</a> with the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Bipin Rawat, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, and three Indian Army Service Chiefs. However, not much has changed along the 70-kilometer-long front that forms the southern banks of Pangong Tso. Officials told Reuters that there have been no significant withdrawals, nor have there been any additional reinforcement of troops. The armies are currently situated along the ridges of the disputed border in the location known as the ‘Finger Area’. The Indian Army claims that it has dominated most of the heights with Chinese troops poised along Finger 4. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/sachin-tendulkar-is-now-paytm-first-games-brand-ambassador-app-aims-to-garner-100-million-users-during-ipl/articleshow/78118256.cms">Sachin Tendulkar is now Paytm First Games’ brand ambassador – with a ₹300 crore marketing spend, the app aims to garner 100 million users during IPL</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/top-stocks-to-watch-future-retail-pvr-central-bank-icici-bank-spicejet-indiabulls-housing-finance-and-more/articleshow/78117441.cms">op stocks to watch— Future Retail, PVR, Central Bank, ICICI Bank, SpiceJet, Indiabulls Housing Finance and more</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/youtube-shorts-is-the-latest-tiktok-alternative-launched-in-beta-in-india/articleshow/78117665.cms">YouTube Shorts is the latest TikTok alternative, launched in beta in India</a>

You Searched For "monsoon session parliament" and got 12 results

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Rajya Sabha to hold general discussion on Union Budget, Jammu and Kashmir Budget today

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Special session of Parliament set to begin today

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PM Modi says Parliament's session may be short but 'big on occasion' — schedule and what's on the agenda

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India's crypto bill is unlikely to be up for discussion this month — and it may be a while before we see it in Parliament

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There are at least 10 hot issues in India that the government has no data for

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India-China border tension will be in focus as the Parliament's Monsoon session begins today

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India's new crypto regulations are ready for the monsoon session of parliament, says the country's Finance Minister

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Rajnath Singh to address Parliament on India-China border row as tensions continue to simmer in Ladakh

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