Rajya Sabha

Cong MP Singhvi defends SC's Article 142 power after VP Dhankhar's remarks

Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar had, on Thursday, called Article 142 a "nuclear missile against democratic forces that remains available to the judiciary 24x7"

Parliament Budget Session concludes, both Houses adjourned sine die

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said as many as 16 Bills were passed during the session and the House productivity was pegged at over 118 per cent

Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die, marking the end of budget session

Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on Friday, marking the end of the Budget Session that began on January 31. In his concluding remarks at the end of the 267th session of Rajya Sabha, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said the House passed key legislations, including the Waqf Amendment Bill, and discussed several important issues during its sittings. "The productivity of this session stood at 119 per cent. On April 3, the Rajya Sabha began proceedings and etched its name in the annals of legislative history with an unprecedented sitting from 11 am on that day until 4.02 am the following day, ie, this day, the longest in its history," Dhankhar said. He added, "This would send a very great message to the people at large and enhance belief in this great institution." Dhankhar appreciated members for participating in the debates and discourses with enlightened inputs and varying opinion shades. "After a long gap, the house witnessed welcome wit, humour, sarcasm and repartee, apart from ...

Parliament highlights: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die amid ruckus over Waqf Bill

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Rajya Sabha passes Waqf Bill 2025; Amit Shah hails it as a 'historic day'

Union Home Minister Amit Shah's statement came soon after the Rajya Sabha gave its approval to the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, following its passage in the Lok Sabha on Thursday

Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 passed in Rajya Sabha: What's next for it?

Parliament approved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, as Rajya Sabha passed it 128-95 after a 12-hour debate

'Chances that judiciary may strike down Waqf Amendment Bill 2025': Singhvi

The Parliament passed the Waqf Amendment Bill 2025 in the early hours of Friday after a marathon and heated debate

Parliament Highlights: Waqf Bill not against Muslims, don't want to hurt sentiments, says Rijiju

Parliament news updates: Catch all the latest news developments here

Rajya Sabha witnesses marathon debate to pass Waqf Amendment Bill

Tabling the Bill in the Rajya Sabha, Rijiju listed the amendments that the government has brought in the redrafted Bill

China takes up land, ally US impose tariffs: Rahul Gandhi slams govt in LS

Rahul Gandhi claimed that the recently announced US tariffs is going to 'completely devastate' the Indian economy, particularly sectors like the auto industry, pharmaceuticals and agriculture

Anurag Thakur should resign if he can't prove allegations, says Kharge

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday hit back at Anurag Thakur for hurling "wild allegations" at him, and dared the BJP MP to prove the charges or else resign. Referring to certain remarks made by Thakur in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday during the discussion on the Waqf bill, the Congress president said the remarks have damaged his reputation. Thakur's remarks have been expunged from the records. Several opposition parties also staged a walkout from the House on the issue. Raising the issue during the morning session in the Rajya Sabha, Kharge said his life has always been an open book, and he has always upheld the highest values in public life. "After almost 60 years in politics, I do not deserve this. Yesterday, completely false and baseless charges were hurled at me in the Lok Sabha by Anurag Thakur. When he was challenged by my colleagues, he was compelled to withdraw his defamatory remarks," he said. "But the damage has been done. All the media

Kiren Rijiju tables Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Rajya Sabha; discussions begin

The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha by a division of votes, with 288 in favour and 232 against

Waqf (Amendment) Bill debate moves to Rajya Sabha - What's the road ahead?

The Waqf Bill now faces a key test in Rajya Sabha (236 seats). NDA needs 119 votes and has 125 with independents. The opposition holds 95, while 16 members remain undecided

Over 50 foreign varsities applied to UGC for approval: Pradhan in RS

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday informed the Rajya Sabha that three foreign universities are currently operating in the country and the University Grants Commission (UGC) is likely to grant approval to 50 qualitative foreign varsities in the coming times in the interest of students. Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour, the minister said the University Act, 1956 says that UGC can amend its rules going by the needs of the time. "Around 14-15 lakh students of the country study abroad and a lot of our resources go into foreign land. Keeping that in view and to develop higher research within the country, it would be proper to bring in foreign universities. With this in mind, UGC has amended its rules," Pradhan told the Rajya Sabha. He said not two but three foreign universities are operating in India currently. Over 50 qualitative foreign universities are in talks with different state governments and have reached the UGC for permission, he added. "In the

Executive alone responsible for governance in democracy, says VP Dhankhar

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said 'governance in democracy is solely the executive's role, not the courts', stressing its accountability to Parliament and the people who elect it

Waqf Bill up for debate in the Lok Sabha today: All you need to know

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, proposes key changes to waqf property management, sparking protests from Muslim organisations and opposition parties over concerns of government control

Highlights: Supreme Court refuses to release Ranveer Allahbadia's passport until Latent probe ends

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Waqf bill: NDA, India bloc issue whips as Parliament braces for showdown

With battle lines clearly drawn, the Parliament debate is expected to be heated as the incumbent NDA government and the Opposition face off over the implications of the Waqf Amendment Bill

Waqf Bill: LS debate on Apr 2, RS on Apr 3; TDP, JDU issue whip for support

The Lok Sabha will take up the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Bill for discussion and passage on Wednesday, setting the stage for a showdown between a government determined to push it through and an opposition united in condemning the proposed law as unconstitutional. Rajya Sabha is expected to take it up on Thursday, with the two Houses allocated eight hours each for debating the proposed law. Some BJP allies, sources said, continue to push for more changes in the bill. A senior member of a BJP ally expressed hope that the saffron party will accommodate their views, stressing that some of their concerns were addressed by the Joint Committee of Parliament which scrutinised the bill. However, he emphasised that the NDA will remain united on the issue. TDP and JD(U), the two biggest constituents of the NDA after the BJP, issued whips to their MPs asking them to support the government stand. The opposition INDIA bloc also presented a united face on Wednesday as its parties discussed th

New bill to boost aircraft leasing, strengthen banking: Union minister

Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu on Tuesday said the Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025, will boost the Indian aircraft leasing industry and strengthen the country's banking ecosystem as it will address the inconsistencies in the leasing regulations. Soon after the Rajya Sabha passed the bill, the minister also said the push for the aircraft leasing industry was the need of the hour. The proposed legislation seeks to provide legal backing for the Cape Town Convention that mainly pertains to the leasing of aircraft. In a post on X, the minister said that for too long, inconsistencies in leasing regulations have made it difficult to lease planes in India. The bill will "boost the Indian leasing industry, incentivise domestic lessors, and strengthen our banking ecosystem -- ensuring a more accessible and comfortable aviation landscape. This push for the leasing industry was the need of the hour...," he said. India is one of the world's fastest-growing civi