GST Bill : Reports of Standing Committees of 9 Ministries

After the eventful first week of the second part of the ongoing Budget session of Parliament, financial business will continue to be the main agenda of both the Houses during the second week beginning on Monday i.e April 27, 2015. The second week of only four working days has a packed agenda. There will be no sittings of Parliament on Friday i. e May 1, 2015 on account of Labour Day.  Reports of Parliamentary Standing Committees pertaining to Demands for Grants for 2015-16 in respect of the Ministries of Agriculture, Defence, Energy, Environment and Forests & Climate Change, Food, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution, Industry, Science and Technology, Water Resources and Urban Development will be submitted in both the Houses of Parliament on Monday.

During the next week, Lok Sabha is scheduled to discuss Demands for Grants of Ministries of Human Resouce Development (part discussed), Home Affairs, Environment and Forests & Climate Change and Health & Family Welfare. DDiscussionin this regard in respect of Ministries of Chemicals & Fertilizers and Drinking Water & Sanitation was concluded during the first week.

The GST Bill (The Constitution 122nd Amendment Bill,2014) has been listed for further consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha on Monday. Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitely moved this Bill in the House last week explaining the objectives of the Bill and the benefits that flow from it by way of economic integration of the country. The Lower House is to conclude the financial business with the passage of Finance Bill during the second week.

Rajya Sabha will resume the second week taking forward the discussion on Agrarian crisis and suicided by farmers in different parts of the country on Monday. During the next week, the upper house is to discuss the working of Ministries of External Affairs, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Law & Justice, Social Justice and Empowerment and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises besides consideration and retrun of Raiways Appropriation Bill as passed by Lok Sabha during the first week of the session.

The Business Advisory Committee of Rajya Sabha has assigned time for discussing three Bills viz., The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2013, pending before the upper house, with official amendments. The other Bills being –The Warehousing Corporations (Amendment) Bill, 2015 and The Payment and Settlement Systems(Amendment) Bill, 2014, both as passed by the Lok Sabha. All these three Bills have been listed in the Business of the House for Monday.

During the first week of second part of the Budget session of Lok Sabha that began on April 20, 2015, Lok Sabha has passed the Railways Appropriation Bill, the lone Bill to have been passed by either of the Houses. The lower house completed discussion on Demands for Grants of Ministries of Chemicals and Fertilizers and Drinking Water and Sanitation. External Affairs Minister Smt.Sushma Swaraj made a statement on the Crisis in Yemen and Resuce Efforts of the Government for Evacuation of Indians from that country. The Government has moved the GST Bill for consideration and passing during the first week.

Rajya Sabha, whose 235th Session began on April 23, 2015 made history by passing the Private Member’s Bill on the rights of transgender persons moved by Shri Tiruchi Shiva of DMK. A Private Member’s Bill was last passed in Parliament 45 years ago. Procedurally, Shri Shiva has to now authorise a Member of Lok Sabha to move the said Bill in the lower house and in case he does so, this Bill will come before the Lok Sabha during the Private Members Bills day on May 8, 2015. DMK has no member in Lok Sabha.