The steering committee on foreign direct investment has recommended enhancement of foreign direct investment limit in domestic airlines sector from 40 per cent to 49 per cent.
Govt open to probe into Bangalore airport contracts to L&T, Siemens.
Union Health Minister J P Nadda also dismissed criticism that government was trying to impose moral values on citizens, saying it is about "righteousness" and the technological advancements in this area have to be used in the "right perspective".
Union Home Minister P Chidambaram has said the government would soon introduce the Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation) Bill with amendments to prevent violence in the name of caste and religion.
The Rs 500 crore cap in the event of an accident, proposed in the controversial nuclear liability bill, could be raised as part of government's efforts to address concerns of the opposition over the issue. Indications to this effect were given by government officials at a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology and Environment on Tuesady.
How do cheer girls promote the cause of cricket? Why are players auctioned like 'gladiators' in IPL system of cricket? These were some of the questions members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance posed to top officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
As Parliamentary Standing Committee went back on some of its recommendations on Lokpal Bill, Team Anna member Kiran Bedi on Thursday night slammed it as an effort to make the ombdusman an "enquiry-pal" and said it confirms her remarks that politicians wear several masks.
Kejriwal spoke exclusively to rediff.com's Sheela Bhatt and was making his final position clear. Before the third round of agitation against corruption begins in the last week of December read the logic and passion behind it in this the first of a two-part series.
"The government has taken several steps to protect interests of investors. The Companies Bill, 2009, which is before the Parliamentary Standing Committee, has allowed Class Action Suit for the first time in the country," corporate affairs minister Salman Khurshid said in the Lok Sabha.
In its report, the panel asked it to 'enlighten it' whether the term 'central government' or 'Union government' was used at the time of framing of the Constitution.
A report by parliamentary standing committee on commerce noted that Indian industry was getting decimated by China dumping its cheap products in India.
The Committee, in an earlier report on the Direct Taxes Code (DTC) Bill, had favoured abolition of STT.
Tharoor questioned about the alleged hacking of phones using spyware Pegasus, to which the officials responded that the matter is subjudice.
Gopal Krishna makes a case against the nuclear liability bill.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025 was passed in the Lok Sabha early Thursday, with 288 members supporting it and 232 against it.
'What we are saying is we must have investment, but in a manner and in areas where you need the capital or technology upgrade.'
The panel said that vacant posts in the CBI are not being filled up at the required pace and recommended that "every effort should be made to fill up vacancies at the earliest".
A decision to this effect was taken by the business advisory committee of the house which also decided to have a debate on the flood situation in the country on Friday.
Lawmakers in Uttar Pradesh have always been touch-sensitive about protocol during official meetings and irrespective of the party in power, complaints of breach of guidelines have often cropped up.
We asked readers about what they think of the union HRD ministry's proposal to levy an exit tax on IIT and IIM graduates who go to work abroad for lucrative salaries or to pursue higher studies. Here's the readers' response on the subject.
Faulting the procedure adopted by the government for divestment of the controversial Mumbai Centaur Hotel property, a Parliamentary Standing Committee has demanded a thorough probe by the Central Vigilance Commission into the deal.
Taking on Rahul Gandhi, Anna Hazare on Sunday said he aspires to be the prime minister but spending "one day" in a hut is just not enough. "I don't have any fight with Rahul Gandhi. He is also young man. He dreams of becoming the prime minister. But spending one day in a hut is not enough. He has to spend months doing it," Hazare said in his address during his one-day dharna protesting against the Parliamentary Standing Committee report on Lokpal Bill.
Taking on Rahul Gandhi, Anna Hazare on Sunday said he aspires to be the prime minister but spending "one day" in a hut is just not enough. "I don't have any fight with Rahul Gandhi. He is also young man. He dreams of becoming the prime minister. But spending one day in a hut is not enough. He has to spend months doing it," Hazare said in his address during his one-day dharna protesting against the Parliamentary Standing Committee report on Lokpal Bill.
Last week Sheela Bhatt spoke to Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal about the government's Lokpal bill in the first part of an interview. On Friday, as the parliamentary standing committee submitted its report to Parliament, we bring you the second part of the interview with Kejriwal.
Putting the government on notice on Lokpal issue, Anna Hazare on Tuesday threatened to go on an indefinite fast in Delhi from December 27 while terming that the draft report by Parliamentary Standing Committee as a "betrayal" of countrymen.
Anna Hazare's major demand is set to be met with the government on Thursday deciding to have a discussion in the Lok Sabha on Friday on the Jan Lokpal Bill.
In a report tabled in Parliament recently, it said several complaints are being disposed of by the Lokpal on the ground that they are not in the prescribed format and asked it not to reject genuine complaints.
Directly reaching out to Anna Hazare on the eighth day of his fast, a concerned Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today appealed to the Gandhian to end his hunger strike with a promise that his version of Lokpal Bill could be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee if rules permit.
The Congress, which is in minority in Rajya Sabha, is expecting a major crisis during the next Parliament session as it proposes to get government bills passed.
Small but significant labour reform laws are expected to be introduced in 2008, to benefit both the employees and employers.
For every one million currency notes, there are eight fake notes floating in the country. While the percentage of fake notes may still be 0.001, the government is concerned as their circulation has grown in alarming quantities over the past few years.
"It is a huge scam. . . . The CPI-M has been opposing this. The Parliamentary Standing Committee, of which I am the chairman, has also all along opposed it," Politburo member Sitaram Yechury said. He said the public-private participation route, pursued by the Planning Commission, was 'disastrous as finally the burden falls on the people'.
A fresh plea has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the constitutional validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, claiming it was a "blatant intrusion" into the rights of a religious denomination to manage its own affairs in the matter of religion. The plea, filed by Samastha Kerala Jamiathul Ulema, argues that the amendments would distort the religious character of Waqfs and irreversibly damage the democratic process in their administration. Several other petitions have been filed in the apex court challenging the validity of the bill, including those by Congress MP Mohammad Jawed, AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, and AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan.
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will hold talks with the opponents of Women's Reservation Bill before the government's takes the next step on it, Minority Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said on Thursday.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice, and Personnel in its report in December last had recommended passage of the Bill in its present form and suggested that the issue should not be left to the discretion of political parties.
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance Chairman Yashwant Sinha wants the government to first introduce goods and services tax (GST) at the central level and set example for states to implement the indirect tax reform.
Although the Bill will not be passed during the current session as it is to be referred to a Parliamentary standing committee, UPA floor managers don't want to face strong resentment in the initial days of the session which might take a toll on other business. The Union Cabinet had approved the Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2008, this October for comprehensive amendment of insurance laws, including a proposal to raise the foreign investment ceiling.
A committee would be set up by the finance ministry to consider the long-pending demand of ex-servicemen for a 'one-rank one-pension' scheme.
"It is mentioned that there is no provision in the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 for appeal, review or reconsideration of an order passed by a bench of the Lokpal of India. It is hereby informed to all concerned that no appeal or request for review/reconsideration of an order will be entertained by the Lokpal of India," the Lokpal said in a notice.
