Parliament Updates: Both Houses Adjourned For The Day

Easing Of Lockdown, Non-adherence To Covid Norms Behind Surge In Infections: Centre
Easing of lockdown combined with pandemic fatigue, lack of community adherence to Covid-appropriate behavior, and circulation of more transmissible variants of SARS-CoV-2 can be attributed to the surge in new cases in some states and union territories, the Lok Sabha was informed on Friday.

In a written reply, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said, according to the WHO, there is some evidence to indicate higher transmissibility for cases infected with variants of SARS-CoV-2 like Delta and Delta plus.

No Noticeable Change In Insurance Coverage During Covid Pandemic: Centre
The government Friday said there has been no noticeable change in insurance coverage in the country during the COVID-19 pandemic, reported news agency PTI.

Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar told Lok Sabha that the number of lives covered under health insurance (excluding personal accident and travel business) from April 1 to December 31, 2020 was 38.79 crore as compared to 39.06 crore for the corresponding period the previous year.

Rajya Sabha Passes Coconut Development Board (Amendment) Bill, 2021
Rajya Sabha on Friday passed the Coconut Development Board (Amendment) Bill, 2021, reported news agency PTI.

Centre Introduces Deposit Insurance And Credit Guarantee Corporation (Amendment) Bill In Rajya Sabha
The government on Friday introduced the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (Amendment) Bill in the Rajya Sabha, which aims to provide timely support to depositors of stressed banks, reported news agency PTI.

Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Karad introduced the Bill, which seeks to provide immediate relief to thousands of depositors who have their money parked in stressed lenders.

Average Retail Prices Of Edible Oils Rise Up To 52% In July: Centre
Average prices of edible oils in retail markets have increased by up to 52 per cent in July compared to the year-ago period, according to official data, reported news agency PTI.

In a written reply to Rajya Sabha on Friday, Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs Ashwini Kumar Choubey said the government has taken several measures with respect to essential food items like pulses and edible oil to curb the increase in prices in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Appeals To Opposition To Let Parliament Monsoon Session Run Smoothly
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday urged Opposition leaders not to create ruckus in Parliament and let the monsoon session run smoothly, reported news agency ANI.

"Yesterday to I requested them not to create a ruckus. Today again I am asking them to let the Parliament session run smoothly. They should give their views on the bills being presented in the houses," Mr Joshi said.

Over 3.8 Lakh People Without Photo ID Documents Vaccinated Through Co-WIN: Centre
As many as 3.83 lakh people without any photo ID documents have been vaccinated through Co-WIN till July 26, Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar said on Friday, reported news agency PTI.

All beneficiaries who have received vaccines in India are registered on the Co-WIN portal, she said in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha.

63 Districts In Country Without Blood Banks: Health Minister
There are 3,500 licensed blood banks in the country and 63 districts are without the facility, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told Lok Sabha on Friday, reported news agency PTI.

Elaborating on the steps taken or proposed by the government to set up blood banks in each district of the country, Mr Mandaviya said the extant policy norm for setting up blood banks as per National Blood Policy is to have at least one licensed blood bank in every district while avoiding clustering of the blood banks in urban and semi urban areas.

292 Children Registered On PM CARES For Children Scheme Portal: Minister
A total of 292 children have been registered on the portal under PM CARES for children scheme to support those kids who have lost their parents due to COVID-19 pandemic, the government said on Friday, reported news agency PTI.

In response to a question in Lok Sabha, Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani said states and union territories have been directed on July 22 to identify children eligible for support under the PM CARES for children scheme and register them on the portal that was launched under this scheme.

Opposition Can Seek Clarification From Minister On Pegasus: Parliamentary Affairs Minister
With the opposition determined to stall Parliament until the government agrees to a debate on the Pegasus issue, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Friday opposition parties can still seek clarification from IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on his statement over the matter, reported news agency PTI.

Interacting with reporters after the Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day due to the opposition's protests, he said the government had agreed to them seeking clarification from Mr Vaishnaw after he made statements in both the House and these parties can still do so.

Rajya Sabha Proceedings Adjourned For The Day
Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day on Friday amid ongoing opposition protest over Pegasus controversy and other issues.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Expresses Concern Over Conduct Of MPs, Warns Of Action
Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu voiced strong concern on Friday over the conduct of some MPs in the Upper House of Parliament during their protest over the Pegasus snooping row and other issues, saying such conduct lowered the dignity and prestige of the House.

Appealing to the members to maintain decorum and decency in the House, he said some MPs were whistling while some others used placards to block the view of ministers.

Shashi Tharoor Urges Lok Sabha Speaker To Take Action Over Officials' ''Last-minute Refusal'' To Attend Panel Meet
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, who heads the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology, has urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to take action over ministry officials' "last-minute refusal" to attend a panel meet, which he said constituted "contempt of the House", reported news agency PTI.

The panel was to hold a meeting on Wednesday to discuss several issues including the Pegasus snooping allegations.

It had summoned officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Communications (Department of Telecommunications) on the subject ''Citizens data security and privacy''.

Centre Ready For Discussion But Opposition Not Allowing It: Parliamentary Affairs Minister
Amid consistent disruptions in both houses in Parliament, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday said the government is ready for the discussion but the opposition is not allowing it.

"There are so many people-related issues that need to be discussed. The government does not want to pass the Bills without discussions. We are ready for discussion but they are not allowing it," Mr Joshi said in the Lok Sabha while commenting on the Opposition's protest over the Pegasus issue.

Lok Sabha Proceedings Adjourned For The Day, Two Bills Introduced
Lok Sabha proceedings were adjourned for the day on Friday amid continued opposition protest over Pegasus and other issues.

When the House reassembled at noon, amid the din two bills - The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Bill, 2021 and the General Insurance Business (Nationalisation) Amendment Bill - was introduced.

Parliament Monsoon Session: Rajya Sabha Adjourned Till 2.30 PM Today
Rajya Sabha got adjourned again for the second time till 2.30pm on Friday following an uproar by the opposition parties on various issues.

Earlier today, the Rajya Sabha got adjourned till 12 noon amidst the ruckus.

''We Want Justice'' Slogans Echo In Parliament
During the Question Hour, Opposition members raised slogans and displayed placards as they protested on Pegasus spyware controversy and other issues. Some Opposition members were heard raising slogans like ''we want justice''.

Congress Slams Centre For Not Letting Opposition Speak In Parliament
Congress MP Manickam Tagore today slammed the government for not allowing Opposition parties to speak in Parliament and urged the centre to hear their voice and have a discussion on the Pegasus snooping issue.

Mallikarjun Kharge Meets Opposition Party Leaders
Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and leaders of Opposition parties held a meeting at LoP's office in Parliament on Friday amid the ongoing monsoon session. On Thursday, Mr Kharge said that the opposition wants to discuss the Pegasus snooping row in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the House.