Parliament Session Alert
Winter Session: December 11, 2018 – January 8, 2019
Highlights
- The Winter Session of Parliament is scheduled to be held between December 11, 2018 and January 8, 2019. There will be a total of 20 sittings.
- Currently there are 66 Bills pending in Parliament. Of these, 23 Bills are listed for consideration and passage, and two for withdrawal during the session. 20 new Bills are listed for introduction, consideration, and passage. We list these below:
Bills listed for consideration and passage
Short Title |
Key Objectives |
Introduced on |
Status |
Education |
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The National Council for Teacher Education (Amendment) Bill, 2017 |
Grants retrospective recognition to central and state universities running teacher education programmes, recognised by the NCTE. |
18 Dec 2017 Lok Sabha |
Passed by Lok Sabha on |
The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Second Amendment) Bill, 2017 |
Empowers the government to detain a child in class 5, 8, or both, and provides an opportunity for re-examination to the child before being detained. |
11 Aug 2017 Lok Sabha |
Standing Committee Report on 9 Feb 2018, Passed by Lok Sabha on 18 Jul 2018 |
Security / Law / Strategic Affairs / Social Justice |
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Amends several Acts regulating divorce to remove leprosy as grounds for divorce. |
10 Aug 2018 |
Not referred to Standing Committee |
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Amends the composition, the term of office and resignation of Chairperson and members of the Human Rights Commissions. |
9 Aug 2018 |
Not referred to Standing Committee |
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The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2018 |
Regulates use of DNA technology for establishing the identity of certain persons with respect to criminal and civil matters. |
9 Aug 2018 |
Not referred to Standing Committee |
The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2018 |
Amends the provisions related to adoption. Instead of the court, the District Magistrate will issue adoption orders. |
6 Aug 2018 Lok Sabha |
Not referred to Standing Committee |
The Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018 |
Creates a law for investigation of all types of trafficking, and rescue, protection and rehabilitation of trafficked victims. |
26 Jul 2018 Lok Sabha |
Passed by Lok Sabha on |
Amends provisions related to the term of office, and resignation of the Chairperson and members of the Board of the Trust. |
18 Jul 2018 Rajya Sabha |
Not referred to Standing Committee |
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Establishes an independent Arbitration Council for the promotion of arbitration, and other alternative dispute redressal mechanisms. |
18 Jul 2018 Lok Sabha |
Passed by Lok Sabha on |
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Establishes a centre to conduct arbitration, mediation, and conciliation proceedings and declares the centre as an institution of national importance. |
5 Jan 2018 |
Not referred to Standing Committee |
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Amends two Acts to allow overseas voters to cast their vote in person or by proxy. |
18 Dec 2017 Lok Sabha |
Passed by Lok Sabha on |
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Defines a transgender person, prohibits discrimination against them and prescribes penalties for certain offences. |
2 Aug 2016 Lok Sabha |
Standing Committee Report on 21 Jul 2017 |
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Finance |
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Provides for a mechanism to ban unregulated deposit schemes. |
18 Jul 2018 Lok Sabha |
Standing Committee to present report within three months w.e.f. 10 Aug 2018 |
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Allows subscribers to join meetings through video conferencing and increases the commission of the foreman. |
12 Mar 2018 Lok Sabha |
Standing Committee Report on 9 Aug 2018 |
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Health |
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Repeals the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 and sets up the National Medical Commission to regulate medical education and practice. |
29 Dec 2017 Lok Sabha |
Standing Committee Report on 20 Mar 2018 |
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Removes the mandatory requirement of the representation of certain dentists in the Dental Councils set up under the Dentists Act, 1948. |
18 Dec 2017 Lok Sabha |
Not referred to Standing Committee |
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Prohibits commercial surrogacy, allows altruistic surrogacy and specifies criteria for the intending couple and surrogate mother. |
21 Nov 2016 Lok Sabha |
Standing Committee Report on 10 Aug 2017 |
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Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution |
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Enforces consumer rights, and provides a mechanism for redressal of complaints regarding defect in goods and deficiency in services. |
5 Jan 2018 Lok Sabha |
Not referred to Standing Committee |
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Shipping / Transport |
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The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2018 |
Increases the threshold for classifying major airports and removes tariff determination by AERA in certain cases. |
18 Jul 2018 Lok Sabha |
Not referred to Standing Committee |
Provides for regulation of major ports and vests the management of such ports in the Boards of Major Port Authorities. |
16 Dec 2016 Lok Sabha |
Standing Committee Report on 18 Jul 2017 |
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Seeks to address issues related to road safety, motor vehicle insurance, and increases penalties under the Act. |
9 Aug 2016 Lok Sabha |
Standing Committee Report on 8 Feb 2017, Passed on 10 Apr 2017. Select Committee Report on 22 Dec 2017 |
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Urban Development |
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The Public Premises (Eviction of Unauthorised Occupants) Amendment Bill, 2017 |
Specifies the procedure for eviction of unauthorised occupants from residential accommodation in public premises. |
31 Jul 2017 Lok Sabha |
Not referred to Standing Committee |
Labour/ MSME |
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The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2018 |
Amends the definition of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises on the basis of annual turnover. |
23 Jul 2018 Lok Sabha |
Standing Committee to present report within three months w.e.f. 4 Oct 2018 |
Sources: Bulletins of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha; PRS.
Bills listed for introduction, consideration and passage
Short Title |
Key Objectives |
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Finance |
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The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2018 – To replace an Ordinance |
Amends the Companies Act, 2013 with respect to certain offences and penalties, among others. |
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The Indian Stamp (Amendment) Bill, 2018 |
Amends Indian Stamp Act, 1899 with respect to levy and administration of stamp duty on securities market instruments. |
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Law and Justice |
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The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018 – To replace an Ordinance |
Makes all declaration of instant triple talaq void and illegal. It is punishable with imprisonment of up to three years. |
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Health and Education |
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The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2018 – To replace an Ordinance |
Supersedes the Medical Council of India for one year and constitutes a Board of Governors to exercise the powers of the Council. |
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The National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2018 |
Sets up a National Commission by superseding the existing Indian Medicine Central Council Act, 1970 to look at matters relating to education and practice of Indian systems of medicine. |
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The National Commission for Homoeopathy Bill, 2018 |
Sets up a National Commission by superseding the existing Homeopathy Central Council Act, 1973 to look at matters relating to education and practice of homoeopathy. |
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The National Commission for Yoga and Naturopathy Bill, 2018 |
Sets up a National Commission to look at matters relating to education and practice of yoga and naturopathy. |
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The Pharmacy Council of Indian Medicine and Homoeopathy Bill, 2018 |
Constitutes a Central Pharmacy Council of Indian Medicine and Homeopathy for regulation of education and profession of pharmacy in Indian medicine and homoeopathy. |
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The National Institute of Design Amendment Bill, 2018 |
Brings the new NIDs at Bhopal, Vijayawada, Kurukshetra and Jorhat within the ambit of the Act. |
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The National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2018 |
Provides the NIFTEM at Kundli, Haryana and IIFPT at Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu with status of Institute of national importance. |
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The Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill, 2018 |
Constitutes central and state councils for allied and health care professions for maintaining educational and practice standards. |
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The Central University (Amendment) Bill, 2018 |
Establishes a new Central University and Central Tribal University in Andhra Pradesh. |
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The National Council of Educational Research and Training Bill, 2018 |
Grants statutory status to the NCERT and declares it as an Institution of national importance. |
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Home Affairs |
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The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Bill, 2018 |
Amends the existing Act with respect to investigation and prosecution of offences relating to terrorism. |
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The National Investigation Agency (Amendment) Bill, 2018 |
Amends the existing Act with respect to investigation and prosecution of offences relating to terrorism. |
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The Anti Maritime Piracy Bill, 2018 |
Enacts legislation in accordance with United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea for piracy related crimes committed on high seas beyond the territorial jurisdiction of India. |
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Science and Technology |
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The Information Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2018 |
Amends the Act with respect to powers to investigate and merges the Cyber Appellate Tribunal with Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal. |
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Civil Aviation |
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The Aircraft (Amendment) Bill 2018 |
Recommends practices laid down by the International Civil Aviation Organization for safety and security oversight function. |
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Water Resources |
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The Dam Safety Bill, 2018 |
Constitutes a national committee on dam safety which shall evolve safety policies and recommend necessary regulations. |
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Culture |
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The Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2018 |
Makes the trust apolitical and empowers the central government to remove nominated members. |
Sources: Bulletins of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha; PRS.
Bills listed for withdrawal
Short Title |
Key Objectives |
Introduced on |
Status |
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Includes two faculty members on the Governing Board and provides financial and administrative autonomy to the University. |
26 Aug 2013 |
Standing Committee Report on |
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The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2017 |
Makes all declaration of instant triple talaq void and illegal. |
28 Dec 2017 |
Passed by Lok Sabha on |
Sources: Bulletins of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha; PRS.
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