Parliament Monsoon Session LIVE Updates: INDIA delegation to meet President Murmu over Manipur violence

• With focus on critical minerals, the amendment introduces major reforms in mining sector.
• Six Minerals omitted from list of 12 atomic minerals.
• Central Government to exclusively auction mineral concessions for critical minerals; state governments to get revenue.
• Introduces exploration licence for deep-seated and critical minerals
• Amendment expected to provide conducive legal environment for attracting FDI and junior mining companies.

The live blog session has concluded. For more news, views and updates, stay tuned with Moneycontrol.com.

The Centre had on August 2 introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023 in Rajya Sabha, which seeks to promote ease of business by decriminalising minor offences, amending 183 provisions in 42 acts.

The Lok Sabha passed the bill on July 27 in the current session.

Piloting the bill in the upper house, Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said it will promote the ease of doing business by decriminalising a number of provisions.

The bill converts several fines to penalties, meaning that court prosecution is not necessary to administer punishments. It also removes imprisonment as a punishment for many offences. All offences under the Post Office Act of 1898 are being removed.

The bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha before being adjourned for the day.

The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023 passed in Rajya Sabha

Both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha have now been adjourned for the day.

- With focus on critical minerals, the amendment introduces major reforms in mining sector.

- Six Minerals omitted from list of 12 atomic minerals.

- Central Government to exclusively auction mineral concessions for critical minerals; state governments to get revenue.

- Introduces exploration licence for deep-seated and critical minerals

- Amendment expected to provide conducive legal environment for attracting FDI and junior mining companies.

Parliamentarians of the opposition bloc INDIA submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu, as they called for a statement to be issued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the violence in Manipur before the House. They also said that Modi should visit the northeastern state and appeal for peace.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav presented the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 in Rajya Sabha for consideration and passage. The Bill aims to amend the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980. The Bill was passed in Lok Sabha on July 26.

The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023, has been passed by the Rajya Sabha. The legislation is aimed at regulating the mining sector in India and mandates the requirement for granting leases for mining operations.

"Two containers of one consignment of heroin weighing 2988.21 kg were seized. NIA has filed 4 chargesheets/supplementary chargesheets. 27 accused have been arrested. Investigations have revealed that the drugs had originated from Afghanistan," MoS Home Nityanand Rai said, on a question related to the cases of heroin seizures at Mundra Port.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has expressed deep displeasure with both the ruling party and the opposition over the functioning of the House. Birla told both sides that he will not come to Lok Sabha until MPs behave according to the dignity of the House. Even today, when the proceedings of the House started, Birla did not come to the Speaker's seat.

Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023 moved in the Rajya Sabha for its consideration and passage to amend the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957.

Lok Sabha has been adjourned for the day following protest from Opposition members over Manipur issue

As Rajya Sabha proceedings resumed, uproar again continued in the House. Centre has proposed Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2023 in Rajya Sabha.

"We urgently request your kind intervention to establish peace and harmony in the state without any further delay. Both the Union and state govt must fulfil their duty to provide justice to the affected communities. We implore you to press upon the PM to urgently address the Parliament on the prevailing situation in Manipur, followed by a detailed and comprehensive discussion on the matter," states memorandum submitted by the Opposition alliance I.N.D.I.A to President Droupadi Murmu over Manipur situation

Opposition bloc INDIA on August 2 submitted a memorandum to President Droupadi Murmu over their demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement in Parliament on the Manipur issue. They also demanded that the prime minister visit the strife-torn state to restore peace.

Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that Indian Railways is prioritising the safety and security of passengers by implementing various measures.

As part of these efforts, CCTV systems have been installed at 866 railway stations across the country.

Additionally, the Railway Minister informed the Lok Sabha that special arrangements, including increased deployment of the Railway Protection Force (RPF), have been put in place at railway stations situated near border areas.

On the Opposition’s demand for the PM's presence in the House, Rajya Sabha Chairman says a directive from the Chair will not be issued - "I can’t give that directive. I shall not..."

Lok Sabha adjourned for another day till 2 pm. The House was adjourned soon after Ashwani Vaishnav gave a statement that every step is being taken to ensure people on the train are safe.

Telangana CM & BRS President KC Rao on being asked if his party is with I.N.D.I.A alliance or NDA

"We are neither with anyone nor do we want to be with anyone. We aren't alone & we also have friends as well. What is new India? They were in power for 50 years, there was no change," he says.

AAP Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on BJD and YSRCP to support Delhi Services Bill in Parliament

"They (BJD & YSRCP) must have taken this decision due to some compulsions...Those who will support this bill will be remembered as anti-national...We will fight to save the Constitution of India," he says.

Meeting of like-minded Opposition floor leaders underway at the Rajya Sabha LoP chamber in Parliament to discuss the strategy for the floor of the House. Sharad Pawar and Farooq Abdullah also present in the meeting.

Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on August 2 took a swipe at the BJP over the Maharashtra train firing incident, clashes in Haryana and the violence in Manipur, asking if these were the "achche din" promised. He said politics of hate was responsible for such incidents.

LoP in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge speaks on meeting President Droupadi Murmu today, says, "Today we will meet madam President (Droupadi Murmu) at 11.30 am and will bring to the notice of the President the situation in Manipur and our experiences from the visit to the state."

A delegation of senior Opposition leaders from the INDIA alliance, along with 21 MPs who recently visited Manipur, is scheduled to meet President Droupadi Murmu at 11:30 am to discuss the Manipur issue.

- BJD extends support to the bill replacing the Delhi services ordinance, providing a boost to the treasury benches in Rajya Sabha.
- BJD also backs the BJP-led NDA government against the no-confidence motion brought by opposition parties in Parliament.
- BJD becomes the second party, after YSR Congress, not formally aligned with either ruling BJP or opposition, to support the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, affecting the opposition's efforts to secure a majority in Rajya Sabha.

AAP MP Sushil Gupta says, "All those parties that believe in democracy will vote against this bill (Ordinance bill) and this bill will not pass in the Lok Sabha."

Parliament on August 1 passed the Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill-2023, which has provisions for sharing benefits of biodiversity commerce with locals and decriminalises biodiversity-related offences

The parliamentary panel recommends immediate compensation to cyber fraud victims by financial institutions to demonstrate a strong commitment to consumer protection. The committee suggests implementing an "automatic compensation system," as devised by the RBI, making it the financial institution's sole responsibility to compensate the affected customers while investigations continue.

The AAP on August 1 termed the bill to replace the Delhi services ordinance the most "undemocratic" piece of paper ever tabled in Parliament and asserted that it will replace democracy with "babucracy".

- The parliamentary panel recommends immediate compensation to cyber fraud victims by financial institutions to demonstrate a strong commitment to consumer protection.

- The committee suggests implementing an "automatic compensation system," as devised by the RBI, making it the financial institution's sole responsibility to compensate the affected customers while investigations continue.