The 250th session of Rajya Sabha commenced on 18 November:
The 250th session of Rajya Sabha is to commence on 18 November 2019. As a part of the observation, Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu released a publication that details the journey of the upper house since its first sitting in May 1952.
Publication on the journey of RS:
♦ The publication is of 118 pages with 29 chapters. It is expected to serve as a ready reckoner on the history of Rajya Sabha.
♦ The publication expresses the role in shaping social change, economic transformation, education, agriculture, industrial development, health, environment, and national security.
♦ The publication has also documented the Rajya Sabha`s landmark legislation and proceedings.
Celebration of 250th session of RS:
In order to celebrate the 250th session of Rajya Sabha, the House held a discussion on the role of Rajya Sabha in Indian Polity: Need for Reform in the second half of the session on 18 November 2019. A silver coin of Rs.250 and a postal stamp of Rs.5 will also be released to commemorate the evolution of Rajya Sabha.
Bills:
The Rajya Sabha has passed 3,817 bills till the end of the 249th session. Among which 60 bills lapsed due to the dissolution of Lok Sabha at various points of time. A total of 63 bills were deemed to have been passed by Rajya Sabha, two bills cleared by it have still not been taken up in Lok Sabha. Since the first general elections in 1952, a total of 3,818 Acts of Parliament have been enacted.
Rajya Sabha:
Chairman: M. Venkaiah Naidu
Deputy Chairman: Harivansh Narayan Singh
Leader of the House: Thawar Chand Gehlot
Leader of the Opposition: Ghulam Nabi Azad
Rajya Sabha (RS), the upper house, and Lok Sabha (LS)/House of the People, the lower house, are the two houses of the Parliament of India. The house currently has a maximum membership of 245, of which 233 are elected by the legislatures of the states and union territories (UTs), and 12 are appointed by the President of India for their contributions to art, literature, science, and social services.
KISS to provide free education project in other states:
Founder of Odisha`s Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) Achyuta Samanta announced that the Institute is to provide the free education policies in other States also.
KISS` free education project:
♦ The Institute initially provided free education to nearly 30,000 tribal students in Odisha. It showed great success in the State. The Institute aims to launch similar projects, like free education, in other states to fight social ills of poverty and Naxalism.
♦ The Institute is to launch ten new centers soon in tribal-dominated areas. The parent institute is located at Bhubaneswar.
♦ The Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences, along with an NGO, is working on setting up an academy at Joka on the southern outskirts of Kolkata.
Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS):
KISS was started in 1993 as a residential tribal School. It is located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. It is aimed to break the vicious cycle of poverty and social isolation and to restore hope for a better future. It was founded by Achyuta Samanta. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Engineering, Management, Rural Management, Biotechnology, Medicine, Fashion, Law, Computer application, Film Studies, Journalism, Architecture, and Sculpting.
Haryana to create a new department of foreign cooperation:
The Haryana Cabinet under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is to create a dedicated new department of foreign cooperation. It aims to streamline and focus on various initiatives taken by the state government for the promotion of investment, generate employment for the youth and welfare of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) from the State.
Provisions of the new department:
♦ The department will work to enhance international cooperation with provinces of foreign countries and engagement with cities under the sister provinces and twin cities programmes of ministry of external affairs.
♦ It will promote investment, employment in the State, education, and skill development in the State. It will also promote the Haryanvi culture and welfare of the Haryanvi diaspora with participation in bilateral and multilateral fora.
♦ It will deal with participation in bilateral working groups to promote the State`s interest in foreign countries in the area of trade and investment both in-bound and out-bound in consultation with external affairs ministry.
♦ It will maintain liaison with Indian missions abroad, external affairs ministry, foreign missions at New Delhi on matters pertaining to Haryana with regard to investment, employment, education, skill development, and culture and NRI/PIO affairs.
Other approvals:
House Rent Allowance of MInisters:
The Haryana government decided to double the House Rent Allowance admissible to ministers on 18 November 2019 in its first cabinet meeting.
The Cabinet has decided to revise the Ministers` House Rent Allowance (HRA) from Rs.50,000 to Rs.80,000 plus Rs.20,000 to cover electricity and water charges by bringing an amendment in a rule of the Haryana Ministers Allowances Rules, 1972. Now, the ministers of the State will get a total HRA of Rs.1 lakh per month under the Haryana Ministers Allowances (Amendment) Rules, 2019.
Haryana Panchayati Raj Act:
The Haryana State Cabinet took an in-principle decision to bring an amendment under the relevant section of the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act. It will allow devolution of powers to the Gram Sabha to ban the sale of liquor within the local area of the Gram Panchayat. Under the amendment, the liquor vends will be not allowed in Haryana villages from the next financial year without its panchayat`s approval.
President Ram Nath Kovind to reach Kerala today for 2-day visit:
President Ram Nath Kovind will reach Kannur in Kerala today evening for a two-day visit. Mr Kovind will present the prestigious President`s Colour to the Indian Naval Academy at Ezhimala at a special function tomorrow.
President`s Colour is a visible symbol of excellence and is earned through dedication and worthy contribution both during war and peace.