News
Lok Sabha
According to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the nation's GDP grew at an average rate of 8.3% over the previous three years, suggesting consistent, stable growth. She emphasised that retail inflation in April-October 2024-25 was 4.8%, the lowest since the Covid epidemic, and that the unemployment rate had decreased from 6% in 2017-18 to 3.2% in 2024. She also noted that half of the industrial sectors are still experiencing robust development, indicating no widespread slowdown in the industry.
The House resumed at 3 p.m. to discuss supplementary demands for grants.
The House was adjourned till 3 p.m.
The Bill was introduced with 269 members voting in favour of the Bill and 198 voting against the Bill.
The House could not settle for a voice vote in the House. Hence, a division of votes was conducted. To conduct the division Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were used in the House, and the members who preferred ballot papers were given the option to do so.
Amid protests from the opposition, the Lower House Speaker convened to clarify that a Joint Parliamentary Committee will be formed then recommendations will be discussed in the House. He requested the protesting opposition to not deliberate more on the Bill, saying he would dedicate as many sessions as they want to discuss the Bill when it is due for approval.
Revolutionary Socialist Party MP NK Premachandran "vehemently" opposed the bill. He pointed out that the Bill should have been cleared with the state governments before being tabled in the Parliament.
Home Minister Amit Shah replied that the Bill can be referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee and the House can in great detail discuss the recommendations of the committee's report.
After the Bill was introduced, Congress MP Manish Tiwari called the Bill “unconstitutional” and beyond the legislative powers of the House. Samajwadi Party MP Dharmendra Yadav also supported the Congress’ argument.
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh had earlier announced, “The Congress party firmly, totally, comprehensively rejects the one nation, one election bill. We will oppose the introduction. We will demand its reference to a Joint Parliamentary Committee.”
The government introduced the Constitution Amendment Bill (One Nation, One Election) Bill in the House today along with the Union Territories Amendment Bill.
The question hour functioned smoothly in the House.
Opposition MPs held a protest inside the Parliament premises over atrocities against the Hindu community in Bangladesh.
Rajya Sabha
Minister of Chemicals and Fertilisers JP Nadda opened the debate in the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) on the Constitution, stressing democracy's role in fostering freedom, equality, and inclusivity for all citizens.