The Winter Session of the Parliament has begun on last Monday, December 4. The Standing Committee
reports on ‘The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023’, ‘The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023’, and
‘The Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023’ was tabled in the two Houses and the three bills are on the agenda of
the government to be passed in this session.
Earlier, the opening day of the Winter Session of Parliament saw two Bills being passed. Alongside, the
Rajya Sabha also decided to discontinue the suspension of AAP MP Raghav Chadha.
Rajya Sabha passed the Bill to repeal the Indian Post Office Act, 1898, and to consolidate and
amend the law relating to the post offices in India. Opposition members raised questions
related to some provisions of the bill. They asked if what the government wanted was to create
a “surveillance state.”
The government rejected the concerns and misgivings of the members with the Minister of
State for Communications Devusinh Chauhan said that provisions have been made for
reasons of national security. There were similar provisions in the previous version of the Post
Office Bill too, he said.
Report of the Ethics Committee looking into allegations against TMC MP Mahua Moitra not tabled
The report of the Ethics Committee, which had investigated the cash-for-query allegations against
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra was not tabled in the Lok Sabha, though it was on the listed
agenda.
India’s GDP registered 7.6% growth in the last quarter: FM Sitharaman
In her statement to the Rajya Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman spoke on the state of India’s
economy. She said the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration to position India's
economy as one of the fastest growing in the world had yielded results. The minister claimed that the
Modi government's actions have made India's economy the fastest growing in the world, with a GDP
growth rate of 7.6% in the most recent quarter.
Asaduddin Owaisi opposes bills on Jammu and Kashmir in Lok Sabha
Opposing the bills on Jammu and Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023
and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi
told the Lok Sabha that both violate the Representation of People Act, 1952.
Today’s Highlights: Both Houses adjourned, to resume tomorrow at 11 am
The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation
(Amendment) Bill, and 2023, have both been tabled in the Lok Sabha and discussion is underway. The ruling
BJP is defending the repeal of Articles 370 and 35A, while the Opposition is opposing the constitutional
viability of the action.
Effectively, the winter session is the last window for the government to clear legislation before the 2024
Lok Sabha polls. It will be conducted in 15 sittings and will continue till December 22.
Bengali