THE HEADLINES::
Lok Sabha passes Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill 2020.
Rajya Sabha witnesses multiple adjournments on the issue of 12 suspended opposition Members of Parliament.
Incidents of infiltration and terrorist attacks decreased significantly in Jammu and Kashmir since 2018, says Minister of State for Home Affairs, in the Rajya Sabha.
DGCA says, in view of evolving situation due to new COVID variant, decision to resume commercial international flights to be notified later.
National Human Rights Commission issues notice to Bihar government over reported botched up cataract surgeries at a Muzaffarpur government hospital.
In Badminton, Kidambi Srikanth and P V Sindhu win their singles opening matches in the BWF World Tour Finals in Bali.
In Junior Hockey World Cup, the quarterfinal match between India and Belgium underway in Bhubaneshwar; Germany, Argentina and France enter the final four.
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The Lok Sabha passed the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation Bill), 2020, after a detailed discussion. It was moved by Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya in the post-lunch session. The minister said the bill is for the regulation and supervision of assisted reproductive technology (ART) clinics and ART banks. He said the Bill would help prevent misuse of the technology and ensure safe and ethical ART practices.
Mr Karthi P.Chidambaram of the Congress, who kick-started the discussion charged that it excludes some sections of the society like the LGBTQ and the single persons from availing the benefits of the assisted reproduction technology. He said the new bill is a part of the Surrogacy Regulation Bill, 2019, which is yet to be passed by the Upper House.
Rita Bahuguna Joshi of the BJP said assisted reproduction has become a thriving business and a regulation is required, adding, the Bill is aimed at regulating it. She said it took 13 long years since initiating the process of bringing such a Bill and urged the House to pass the legislation at the earliest.
Dr Heena V Gavit of the BJP highlighted the merits of the Bill saying it seeks to regulate the assisted reproduction sector. She said sex selection at all the phases of assisted reproduction is strictly banned under the Bill, adding, an ART Registry is being envisaged providing a legal framework for the whole sector. She also said the rights and duties of a child borne out of ART will be the same as that of a child who is born to a parent conventionally.
The DMK opposed the bill saying the regulatory boards being envisaged under the bill does not mandate competent medical experts to be the members.
Dr Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar of the AITC opposed the Bill saying, if the regulatory boards as mandated in the bill are not having properly trained ART experts as members, both the couple seeking the help of assisted reproduction and the medical practitioners dealing with it will be rendered vulnerable to punitive action, as the process involved in the technology is highly complex.
Dr Venkata Satyavati of the YSR Congress Party and Dr Alok Kumar Suman of the JD (U) supported the Bill. Sangeeta Azad of the BSP hailed the Bill as a ray of hope for the couples seeking ART but asked to make it legal for single parents also to avail it.
Supriya Sule of the NCP while welcoming the Bill asked to integrate both the Surrogacy Regulation Bill, 2019, and the present Bill.
Anubhav Mohanty of the BJD said the Bill allows only a close relative of a person to be the surrogate mother though it does not define who is a close relative. He said commercial surrogacy need not be viewed as illegal.
Meanwhile, NK Premachandran of the RSP brought a point of order saying the Bill is a part of the Surrogacy Regulation Bill, 2019 and asked how the new bill can be taken up by the Lower House when the main bill is pending in the Rajya Sabha.
Health Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya replied that the new bill has been moved in the Lok Sabha on the recommendation of the Upper House panel as both the bills were sought to be taken up together for consideration there, as both are interdependent. Therefore, he said passing the new bill is essential for the Rajya Sabha to consider them for passing.
In the morning, when the Lok Sabha assembled for the third day today, TRS members raised slogans in the Well leading the chair to adjourn the House till noon after about half an hour of the Question Hour.
Railway Minister Ashwani Vaishnav told the House during the Question Hour that 46,776 route kilometers of the broad guage rail lines out of the total of 64,689 route kilometers have been electrified as on 1st November this year. He said it amounts to 72 percent of the network, adding, works are in full steam to electrify the whole length of the network. He said last year alone, 6000 route kilometers have been taken up for electrification.
To another question, he said the Railway Ministry is procuring containers from Indian companies alone. He said there is no proposal to establish any container manufacturing facility by the Railways as of now.
Earlier, the Congress and the DMK members staged a walk out from the House for a brief while in support of the demand to revoke the suspension of the 12 Opposition Rajya Sabha members. However, they returned to the House after a while and participated in the discussions.
The TRS members in the post lunch session sat on the floor in the Well of the House pressing for their demands. Later, when the Bill was taken up for passing, they staged a walkout.
Meanwhile, the Rajya Sabha witnessed a series of adjournments today over the issue of the suspension of 12 Opposition members. Initially it was adjourned till noon and then till 2 pm. When the House reassembled at 2 PM, the Dam Safety Bill, 2019 was taken up for consideration and passing. When the Union Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat started speaking on the Bill, the opposition members including from Congress, TMC and AAP started sloganeering. TRS members trooped into well raising slogans seeking a bill on MSP. Deputy Chairman Harivansh appealed to the members to allow the House to function but the opposition members did not pay heed to his appeal. Amid din, the Deputy Chairman adjourned the House till 3 PM.
Earlier, When the House met for the day, opposition members raised the issue of suspension of the 12 members. Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said, the suspended members have so far not expressed remorse for their unruly conduct due to which the image of the House has been tarnished. When the proceedings started, the newly elected member to the Rajya Sabha from Kerala Jose K Mani took oath.
The incidents of infiltration and terrorist attacks have decreased significantly in Jammu and Kashmir since 2018. In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Nityanand Rai said, 417 terrorist incidents happened in 2018 whereas 200 terrorist incidents occurred by November this year. He further said, 28 estimated net infiltration have been reported till October this year in comparison to 143 in 2018. The Minister also said, 14 terrorists have been apprehended and 165 terrorists have been killed during the last 11 months.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple projects worth around 18 thousand crore rupees in Dehradun on Saturday. The projects aim to improve road infrastructure, to make travel smooth and safer, and also increase tourism in the region.
National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the Bihar government over reported botched up cataract surgeries resulting in removal of eyes of several patients at a government hospital in Muzaffarpur.
The Commission took suo motu cognizance of a media report that the eyes of six patients had to be removed due to botched up cataract surgeries at Shrikrishna Medical College & Hospital, SKMCH in Muzaffarpur, Bihar on 22nd November. A press release from the Commission said, the doctors may require removing the eyes of about a dozen more patients due to infections after the surgery.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of human rights violation.
The notice issued to the Chief Secretary, Bihar has called for a detailed report in the matter.
Directorate General of Civil Aviation DGCA has said that it will notify its decision on date of resumption of scheduled commercial international passengers airline services to and from India in due course.
Recenlty, the Centre has decided to resume scheduled commercial international passenger services from 15th December of this month. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the scheduled international commercial passenger services was suspended by India on 23rd March last year.
DGCA in a circular said that the situation is being closely watched in view of emergence of new COVID variant.
In view of reporting of Omicron, the new variant of Covid-19, the Health Ministry has revised guidelines for international arrivals in India, effective from today. The Ministry has mandated submitting 14 days travel details and uploading negative RT-PCR test report on Air Suvidha portal before the journey. The RT-PCR test should have been conducted within 72 hours prior to undertaking the journey.
India’s COVID vaccination coverage has crossed 124 crore 86 lakh mark. Out of the total vaccination, more than 79 crore vaccine doses have been given as first dose while over 45 crore 76 lakh doses have been administered as second dose. Health Ministry said that more than 71 lakh 55 thousand vaccines doses were administered till 7 PM today.
In our bilingual live phone-in programme “Corona Jagrukta series”, Dr. Anupam Prakash Professor Medicine, Lady Hardinge Medical College will be with us tonight to answer the queries related to Corona Virus. This Programme can be heard on FM Gold Channel and additional frequencies from 09:30 PM onwards.
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Delhi Government has decided to reduce VAT on petrol to 19.40 per cent from 30 per cent. Petrol price in the city will be reduced by eight rupees per litre. The new rate will come in to effect from midnight today.
National Highways Authority of India, NHAI has planted around two crore 24 lakh plants in the last five years along Highways. Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said this in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today. He said, to compensate the ecological loss, median and road side plantation is being carried out either by the contractor as a scope of agreement or through Forest Department as deposit work.
Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi today informed the Lok Sabha that there is no shortage of coal in the country. Mr Joshi said due to increased demand of power, less power generation by imported coal based power plants and some interruption in supply of coal due to heavy rains, the coal stock at power plants depleted to 7.2 million tonnes (MT) as on October the 5th this year. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, the Minister said, with increased coal supplies, the coal stock has started increasing and has now reached 16.74 MT, sufficient for nine days as on the 25th of last month.
Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution Minister Piyush Goyal has said, production of ethanol from rice, maize and wheat available with Food Corporation of India would not affect the food security or per capita availability of food grains. In reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, he said, that country has 253.26 Lakh Matric Tonnes (LMTs) of Rice and 468.52 LMTs of Wheat stocks with FCI and state agencies which is more than double to the stocking norms. He also said that annual procurement of Rice and Wheat is also more than the requirement for targeted public distribution system and other welfare schemes to maintain food security. He said, Ethanol Blended with Petrol Programme approved by National bio-fuel Coordination Committee, would increase the income of farmers and reduce imports of crude oil and pollution.
Government today said, six Covid 19 positive cases have been reported after screening of three thousand 476 passengers from 11 international flights from at risk countries. On the first day of operation of the Guidelines for International Travelers issued by the Centre as public health response measures for control and management of the new reported variant of COVID-19 a total of 11 international flights landed at various airports of the country except Lucknow, from midnight to 4 PM today.
India has joined the G20 Troika today. Apart from India,Troika consists of Indonesia and Italy. External Affairs Ministry said, India will assume the G20 Presidency in December 2022 from Indonesia and will convene the G20 Leaders’ Summit for the first time in the country in 2023. It said, India will work closely with Indonesia and Italy to ensure consistency and continuity of the G20’s agenda as a Troika member.
Indonesia has assumed the G20 Presidency today and will convene various G20 meetings throughout the year culminating with the G20 Leaders’ Summit in October next year under the overall theme of Recover Together Recover Stronger. The G20 is a premier forum for international economic cooperation. As a founding member of the G20, India has used the platform to raise issues of vital importance.
In Badminton, Kidambi Srikanth and P V Sindhu have won their opening singles Group matches in the ongoing BWF World Tour Finals in Bali, Indonesia. Srikanth defeated France's Toma Junior Popov 21-14, 21-16 this morning. P. V. Sindhu beat Line Christophersen of Denmark 21-14, 21-16.
Lakshya Sen entered the second round as his opponent Kento Momota of Japan was retired in the opening match after few minutes of the start of the day.
However, in women's doubles, pair of Ashwini Ponnappa and N Sikki Reddy lost their first game in Group B. Nami Matsuyama and Chiharu Shida of Japan defeated the Indian duo, 21-14, 21-18.
In FIH Junior World Cup Hockey, quarterfinal match between India and Belgium is currently underway.
Earlier, in other quarter finals, played today at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar, Germany beat Spain by 3-1, in shootout after laveling score 2-2. Netherlands lost to Argentina by 1-2. France defeated Malaysia by 4-0.
All India Radio is broadcasting the commentary live on the quarter-final match of FIH Junior World Cup Hockey between India and Belgium from 7.25 p.m. to 8.55 p.m. or till the end of the match. It is also available with RN Support DLC-10.
"The BSE Sensex appreciated 620 points, to trade at 57,685. The NSE Nifty also surged 184 points, to trade at 17,167. In the forex market, the rupee appreciated 26 paise to close at 74 rupees and 91 paise against the US dollar. Gold prices gained 90 rupees . The precious metal was trading at 47,895, rupees per 10 gram in intra-day trade. Silver also gained 110 rupees to 61,700 rupees per kilogram. And In intra-day trade, Brent crude was trading around 72 dollars and 50 cents per barrel. Arjun Choudhary, for AIR News."
The Hornbill Festival, the biggest cultural extravaganza of Nagaland, kicked off with colourful rendition of traditional music, dances and contemporary music in one roof at Naga heritage village Kisama this evening.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Governor of Assam and Nagaland, Prof Jagdish Mukhi said Nagaland has rich culture, tradition and customs which are unique- the dance and music are well known even outside the country. He said the Government of India under the dynamic leadership of PM Modi is committed to ensure development of the region.
Chief Minister Mr. Neiphiu Rio said the Hornbill Festival continues to contribute immensely in enhancing the tourism brand of Nagaland and its people as it gathers strength with every edition.
A REVIEW OF PROCEEDINGS IN PARLIAMENT TODAY, FIRST FROM LOK SABHA. WRITER IS KUMAR RAKESH OF PTI
Lok Sabha proceedings returned to normalcy today after a brief adjournment as the House passed the Assisted Reproductive Technology (regulation) Bill 2020 in the post lunch session.
The Question Hour, however, could not proceed beyond half an hour as Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House after expressing his anger at the TRS members over their continued protests in the Well of the House over farmers' issues.
This is the third consecutive day that the Question Hour was disrupted since the winter session of Parliament commenced on Monday.
Members of the TRS shouted slogans and displayed placards over farmer issues in the Well.
Speaker Om Birla told them, it was not the right thing to do and emphasised that the Question Hour was important.
"When a senior member is speaking, you (people) are protesting... what kind of practice are you trying to bring into the House?", a peeved Birla asked the protesting members.
The speaker also urged all the members to make efforts to ensure that such wrong behaviour and practices be stopped in the House.
Four questions and their supplementaries were taken up during the Question Hour which went on for nearly half-an-hour.
As the protests by the members of TRS continued, Birla adjourned the proceedings till noon.
Later, during the Zero Hour, BJP member Nishikant Dubey urged the Centre to bring a law soon to implement a Uniform Civil Code in the country.
Even after 75 years of Independence, India has not been able to bring in a Uniform Civil Code, he said.
Congress MP from Kerala Shashi Tharoor raised the issue of non-subsidised kerosene given to the southern state through the Public Distribution System.
He urged the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to increase the allocation of non-subsidised PDS kerosene to Kerala to help the fishermen community.
In the House, the Joint Committee of Parliament examining the Personal Data Protection Bill was given an extension till the last week of the ongoing Winter session to submit its report.
The Bill, seeking to provide for the protection of personal data of individuals and establish a Data Protection Authority for the same, was brought in Parliament in 2019 and was referred to the Joint Committee for further scrutiny on the demand of opposition members.
P P Chaudhary of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party moved a motion seeking the extension up to the last week of Winter session of Parliament for the 30-member panel to submit its report. The ongoing session ends on December 23.
This is for the sixth time the committee's tenure has been extended.
The Personal Data Protection Bill seeks to regulate the use of individual's data by the government and private companies.
The Joint Committee of Parliament on the Personal Data Protection Bill, 2019 had last month adopted the report on the Bill, which provided the government with powers to give exemptions to its probe agencies from the provisions of the Act, a move opposed by opposition MPs who filed their dissent notes.
Opposition leaders have been opposing certain provisions of the Bill including giving unbridled powers to the state and its agencies for use of personal data.
The Assisted Reproductive Technology (regulation) Bill 2020 was introduced in the Lok Sabha by Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya yesterday. He moved the Bill for consideration and passing today. After a detailed discussion, it was passed. It seeks regulation and supervision of the assisted reproductive technology clinics and the assisted reproductive technology banks.
It also provides for measures for prevention of misuse, safe and ethical practice of assisted reproductive technology services and related matters.
Moving the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, which proposes establishment of a national registry and registration authority for all clinics and medical professionals serving in the field, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya noted the bill was tabled in Parliament in September 2020 and the lower House referred it to the Standing Committee.
Many suggestions came from the Standing Committee and the government has considered those recommendations, he said.
The Standing Committee Report on the Bill was submitted in March this year.
Many of the Assisted Reproduction Technology clinics have been running in the country without regulation. A need was felt for their regulation as it has implications on the health of those who undergo the procedure, he said.
Lok Sabha passed the Assisted Reproductive (Regulation) Bill, 2020 with a voice vote while negating amendments moved by opposition members.
A REVIEW OF PROCEEDINGS IN RAJYA SABHA. WRITER IS RAJESH AHUJA OF UNI
The issue of suspension of 12 opposition MPs continued to create a storm in the Rajya Sabha for the third day today in the Winter Session of Parliament with the members of the Opposition disrupting proceedings of the House in protest against the action.
Proceedings of the Rajya Sabha began today with the oath of affirmation of Jose K Mani of Kerala.
The oath of affirmation was followed by the laying of papers on the floor of the House.
Afterwards, members of the Opposition parties started raising demands of revocation of suspension of 12 opposition MPs over unruly behaviour in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.
Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu urged the members to allow the proceedings of the House, but members did not pay heed.
Some of the Opposition members entered the well of the House, raising slogans.
Chairman M. Venkaiah Naidu lamented that there is no remorse among the suspended members over their unruly behaviour during the previous session. Terming the behaviour of the Opposition members un-parliamentary and un-democratic, the Chairman said, the members have insulted the Parliamentary system. He said, they want to disrupt the Zero Hour and the Question Hour and the entire country is watching their conduct.
As the sloganeering continued, the Chairman adjourned the House till 1200 hours.
When the House reassembled, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge rose to raise the issue of the suspension of 12 opposition MPs. Mr. Kharge said he wanted to bring attention to grievances of the members.
However, Deputy Chairman Harivansh disallowed him saying that he would only allow issues relating to the Questions Hour. Afterwards, members of the Opposition parties, including Congress, DMK and TRS, trooped into the well of the House. With the uproar continued, the Deputy Chairman adjourned the House till 1400 hours.
When the House reassembled at 1400 hours, the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge again raised the issue of the suspension of opposition MPs. Deputy Chairman Harivansh disallowed him. It was followed by an uproar by members of the Opposition parties.
Amid the uproar, Deputy Chairman Harivansh asked Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to move the Dam Safety Bill 2019 for Consideration. The bill was moved for Consideration amid noisy scenes.
The bill aims to provide a robust legal and institutional framework under Central and State Governments on the safety of dams. It envisages prevention and mitigation of dam failure related disasters through proper surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of all dams in the country.
The Bill provides for the constitution of a ‘National Committee on Dam Safety (NCDS)’ to evolve dam safety policies and recommend necessary regulations. NCDS is proposed to be chaired by Chairman, CWC. It provides for the establishment of ‘National Dam Safety Authority’ (NDSA) as a regulatory body to implement the policy, guidelines and standards for dam safety in the country.
The Bill also provides for the constitution of ‘State Committees on Dam Safety’ by the State Governments to ensure proper surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of all specified dams in the State.
Speaking on the Bill, the Minister highlighted the importance of water in the lives of people. He said, India has more than 5,000 dams and many of them are more than 25 years old.
While the Minister was speaking, Opposition parties continued their protest. As the noisy scene continued, the Deputy Chairman adjourned the House till 1500 hours.
When the House reassembled at 1500 hours, the Presiding Officer Bhubaneswar Kalita asked the members to let the Minister complete his speech on the Dam Safety Bill. After that he can call the Leader of the Opposition to speak. He appealed to the members to allow the House to function, but the protesting member did not relent and started sloganeering. Amid the uproar, the Chair adjourned the House for the day.
This is the third day in succession that the opposition has disrupted proceedings of the Upper House over the issue of the suspension of opposition MPs.
Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar has said that the government has created a network of 722 Krishi Vigyan Kendras for dissemination of knowledge and information about modern technology. In a written reply to question in Lok Sabha, Mr Tomar said, government has taken various steps to modernizing agriculture for sustainable growth in agriculture sector. He said, the Ministry has taken initiative for promotion of Agricultural Mechanization for In-Situ Management of Crop Residue in the States of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Centre is monitoring the wholesale and retail prices of 22 essential food commodities on daily basis from 179 price monitoring centres set up by the State Governments and Union Territories Administrations. Minister of State for Consumer Affairs Ashwini Kumar Choubey said this in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today. The daily prices and price trends are analysed on real-time basis for requisite policy interventions.