New Delhi [India]: The final day of the Parliament’s Budget Session saw a major legislative push from the Centre, with several key bills introduced and debated in both Houses, culminating in a high-octane end to the session that began in January.
🏛️ Key Bills on the Agenda Today
1. ST Reservation in Goa
- Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal is set to introduce the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of the State of Goa Bill, 2024.
- Purpose: To ensure reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribes in the Goa Legislative Assembly, following new inclusions in the ST list.
- The bill cites Article 332 of the Constitution, which mandates such representation for effective democratic participation.
2. Mental Healthcare Amendment Bill
- Union Minister Rajiv Pratap Rudy will present the Mental Healthcare (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aiming to update and improve the Mental Healthcare Act of 2017.
- Focus areas may include infrastructure, mental health services, and rights of patients, though details remain awaited.
📊 Parliamentary Reports Presented
- Committee on Estimates (Sixth Report):
- Theme: Climate Resilient Agriculture, Natural and Organic Farming via KVKs.
- Pertains to: Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare.
- Presented by: Dr. Bhola Singh and Dr. Sanjay Jaiswal.
- Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs (Fifth Report):
- Theme: Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) and the role of NCRTC.
- Presented by: Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy and Alok Sharma.
📄 Papers Laid on the Table
Ministers including Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Prataprao Jadhav, Jayant Chaudhary, and others presented documents related to their respective ministries.
📜 Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 & Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill Passed
- After a 12-hour marathon debate, both bills were passed post-midnight in Rajya Sabha, with:
- 128 Ayes and 95 Noes.
- Union Minister Kiren Rijiju reiterated the bill’s intent to improve transparency and boost Waqf board efficiency.
- The revised bill, now titled UMEED (Unified Waqf Management Empowerment Efficiency and Development) Bill, includes inputs from the Joint Parliamentary Committee.
🗓️ Session Timeline Recap
- First Part: January 31 – February 13
- Second Part: March 10 – April 4 (Today)
As the curtain falls on this Budget Session, the government’s legislative momentum and opposition’s vocal resistance have set the tone for a politically charged summer, especially in the run-up to the general elections.