Year End Review 2023: Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
Year End Review 2023: Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs
Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs has been assigned the task of efficiently handling diverse Parliamentary work on behalf of the Government, in the Parliament. As such, the Ministry serves as an important link between the two Houses of Parliament and the Government with some additional responsibilities and functions assigned from time to time. The major initiatives/events/achievements of Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs during the year 2023 are as follows:
Legislative Business of Parliament
Lok Sabha
Rajya Sabha
Total
Bills introduced
41
05
46
Bills passed
47
49
Bills passed by both Houses
49*
*Details of Bills passed by both Houses are at Annexure.
The present Government has created a record by scrapping the old, redundant, and archaic Laws from statute books. A total of 1562 old and redundant Laws have been repealed so far since 2014.
The month of September, 2023 marked a historical occasion when the nation was gifted a New Parliament Building. A Special Session of Parliament was convened which commenced on 18th of September, 2023 in the Old Parliament Building wherein discussion on ‘Parliamentary Journey of 75 Years Starting from Samvidhan Sabha – Achievements, Experiences, Memories and Learnings’ was held in both the Houses. The Prime Minister and other dignitaries addressed Members of Parliament assembled in the Central Hall on 19th September, 2023 and thereafter, the respective Houses started their proceedings in the New Parliament Building, rechristened as SANSAD BHAVAN while Old Parliament House including Central Hall has been given the name of ‘Samvidhan Sadan’.
The Special Session witnessed a historical moment when “Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 i.e. the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Act, 2023” for giving one-third reservation to women in Lok Sabha and State/Union Territory Legislatures to enable greater participation of women as public representatives in policy making at the National and State levels was passed. The voting pattern in Lok Sabha remained 454 voting in favour and only 2 Members voting against it. In Rajya Sabha, it was passed unanimously.
Details of important Legislations enacted during the year (January-December, 2023)
During this period, 49 Bills were passed by both the Houses of Parliament and assented to by the President. Objectives and purposes of some of the important enactments are as follows:
Members of the Lok Sabha who wish to bring to the notice of the House any matter which is not a point of order are permitted by the Speaker to raise the matter under rule 377 of the Rule of Procedures and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha. In the Rajya Sabha, the Chairman permits the members to mention matters of urgent public importance, generally known as Special Mention, under Rule 180 A-E of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Rajya Sabha. These matters are generally raised after the disposal of Questions and Calling Attention.
Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs takes follow-up action by requesting Ministries/ Departments for timely disposal of the issues raised under Rule 377 in Lok Sabha and under Rule 180 A-E by way of Special Mentions in Rajya Sabha. During the period 01.01.2023 to 08.12.2023, 951 matters were raised in Lok Sabha under Rule 377 and 60 issues were raised by way of Special Mention under Rule 180 A-E in Rajya Sabha. During the period under report, 77% of issues raised in Lok Sabha and 80% of issues raised in Rajya Sabha were replied to.
During ‘Zero Hour’ members in both Houses with the permission of the Presiding Officer, raise matters of urgent public importance. During the period under report, 333 matters were raised in Lok Sabha and 204 matters were raised in Rajya Sabha. All the matters were forwarded to the concerned Ministries for taking appropriate action, as deemed fit.
YOUTH PARLIAMENT
Youth Parliament Competitions
[Prize Distribution Function of 24th National Youth Parliament Competition, 2022-23 for JNVs organized on 4th May, 2023]
[Prize Distribution Function of 33rd National Youth Parliament Competition, 2022-23 for KVs organized on 1st September, 2023]
[Prize Distribution Function of 55th Youth Parliament Competition, 2022-23 for Delhi schools organized on 21st July, 2023]
Web-portal of National Youth Parliament Scheme
Special sittings of Youth Parliament
[A special sitting of Youth Parliament on the theme of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav was organized by Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Amravati, Maharashtra on 18th February, 2023]
[A special sitting of Youth Parliament on the theme of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav was organized by Kendriya Vidyalaya AFS Manauri, Prayagraj (U.P.) on 21st February, 2023]
The Ministry constitutes Consultative Committees of Members of Parliament and makes arrangements for holding their meetings during session and inter-session periods. After the constitution of 17th Lok Sabha, 37 Consultative Committees were constituted for various Ministries/Departments. Two more Consultative Committees for Ministry of Labour & Employment and Ministry of Law & Justice were constituted on 28.07.2020 and 20.04.2022 respectively.
The following activities were undertaken during the year 2023:
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs launched the Software application OAMS (Online Assurance Monitoring System) on 9th October, 2018. Through this system, the Ministry is receiving large number of implementation reports. Periodically, reminders are issued to all Ministries/Departments at the level of Minister, Secretary, Additional Secretary for ensuring quick disposal of pending assurances. In addition, Oral Evidence of various Ministries/Departments in this regard are taken by the Committee on Government Assurances to quickly dispose of the pending Assurances. The monitoring system put in place is effective, as such, pendency has reduced considerably. In the year 2023, a total of 395 Implementation Reports were laid in Lok Sabha and total 303 Implementation Reports were laid in Rajya Sabha.
The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs is the ‘Nodal Ministry’ for implementation of NeVA MMP in all the States/ UTs with Legislatures and has been empowered to take all necessary steps to promote & roll out e-Vidhan re-designated as National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA) in all the 31 States/ UTs with Legislatures. The NeVA project has achieved notable milestones in its remarkable journey. Presently, 22 Legislatures have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry. Out of these, 18 have received project sanction and funding. Moreover, 12 Legislatures, such as Bihar Council, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh (both Houses), Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Mizoram, Tripura, Gujarat, and Punjab, have successfully digitized their Houses through the NeVA platform. These accomplishments underscore the project’s effective implementation and expanding influence.
This year marked a significant milestone in the NeVA project as apart from signing of Memorandum of Understanding by Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly for NeVA implementation, the detailed project report for Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh Assembly were also approved by the Empowered Committee of NeVA. The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, Sikkim Legislative Assembly, Tripura Legislative Assembly, and Gujarat Legislative Assembly successfully went live with NeVA. It was a matter of pride for all the stakeholders of the NeVA that the President of India, Smt. Draupadi Murmu inaugurated NeVA project for Digital Legislature in Gujarat Legislative Assembly during this period.
[President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu inaugurated National eVidhan Application (NeVA) at Gujarat Legislative Assembly on 13-09-2023]
As part of the midterm review of the NeVA project in all State/UT legislatures, a two-dayNational Workshop on NeVA took place on May 24-25, 2023 in New Delhi. The workshop was attended by over 200 attendees from State/UT Legislatures, State Governments, and NIC.
[The Two-Days National Workshop on 24th & 25th May, 2023 was inaugurated by Union Minister Sh. Piyush Goyal and Union Minister Sh. Pralhad V. Joshi, Minister of State, Sh. V. Muraleedharan & Sh. Gudey Srinivas, IAS, Secretary, MoPA also marked their presence]
[Address by Shri Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi, Hon’ble Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines in National Workshop of National eVidhan Application (NeVA), organised by MoPA on 24th & 25th May, 2023]
[Token of Appreciation to 9 Legislatures- Bihar Council, Nagaland Assembly, UP Assembly ,Haryana Assembly, Mizoram Assembly, Meghalaya Assembly, UP Council, Tamil Nadu Assembly & Sikkim Assembly for proactive steps for Successful Implementation of NeVA by Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State(I/C) for Law and Justice, Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and Culture]
[Union Minister Sh. Piyush Goyal presented the prestigious Computer Society Award for National eVidhan Application to Union Minister Sh. Pralhad Joshi]
For elebration of the Constitution Day on 26th November, 2023, Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs operationalized two web-portals for larger public participation:
About 28 Lacs people have participated on these two Portals, details of which are as under:
PROTOCOL AND WELFARE
The Parliamentarians of a country play a significant role in determining the policies of the country and strengthening of relations with other countries. More particularly, it is indeed useful and necessary for a democratic and developing country like India to select some Members of Parliament and distinguished personalities and utilize their services in projecting our policies, programmes, problems and achievements in different fields with their counterparts and other opinion makers in other countries and secure their support in favour of India.
In consultation with the Ministry of External Affairs and the concerned missions of India one Goodwill Delegation of Parliamentarians was sent to Brazil and Uruguay during 11th June, 2023 to 19th June, 2023 under the leadership of Minister of Parliamentary Affairs.
Meeting with Delegations from abroad
Besides sending the delegations abroad, various delegations from abroad called on Minister of Parliamentary Affairs/Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and exchange views on functioning of Parliament and other matters of mutual interest. This year, two such parliamentary delegations from Argentina and Brazil met the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs on 06.2.2023 and 18.07.2023 respectively.
Liaison with Leaders of various parties/groups in Parliament.
One of the vital functions allotted to Parliamentary Affairs Ministry under the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 is liaison with Leaders and Whips of various political Parties and Groups represented in Parliament. The Ministry makes necessary arrangements/co-ordinates the meetings of leaders of various political parties/groups in Parliament convened by the Prime Minister and other Union Ministers in order to evolve consensus on important national and international issues. During the period under report, 4 such meetings were convened on 30.01.2023, 19.07.2023, 17.09.2023 and 02.12.2023 before the commencement of Parliament Sessions on the subject of smooth functioning of Parliament.
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BY/AKN
ANNEXURE
BILLS PASSED BY BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT DURING THE YEAR (JANUARY-DECEMBER, 2023)
S. No.
Name of the Bill
The Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation (No.2) Bill, 2023
The Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation Bill, 2023
The Appropriation (No. 2) Bill, 2023
The Appropriation Bill, 2023
The Finance Bill, 2023
The Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2022
The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023
The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2023
The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Third Amendment) Bill, 2023
The Multi-State Co-operative Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2023
The Biological Diversity (Amendment) Bill, 2023
The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023
The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023
The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023
The Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023
The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023
The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2023
The Mediation Bill, 2023
The Inter-services Organisations (Command, Control & Discipline) Bill, 2023
The Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill, 2023
The National Dental Commission Bill, 2023.
The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023
The Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order Amendment Bill, 2023
The Anusandhan National Research Foundation Bill, 2023
The Digital Personal Data Protection Bill, 2023
The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023
The Pharmacy (Amendment) Bill, 2023
The Central Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023
The Integrated Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2023
The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023
The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
The Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023.
The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023
The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023
The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2023
The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023
The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2023
The Post Office Bill, 2023
The Appropriation (No. 3) Bill, 2023
The Appropriation (No. 4) Bill, 2023
The National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Second (Amendment) Bill, 2023
The Central Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2023
The Provisional Collection of Taxes Bill, 2023
The Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
The Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023
The Bhartiya Sakshya Bill, 2023
The Telecommunications Bill, 2023
The Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Bill, 2023
The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, 2023
- Three landmark Bills relating to the criminal justice system to ensure victim-centric justice namely the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 and the Bharatiya Sakshya Bill, 2023 replacing the Indian Penal Code, 1860, the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 were passed by both the Houses of Parliament during the Winter Session, 2023.
- The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Fifth Amendment) Act, 2023 provides for revision of list of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes of Chhattisgarh.