Parliament Winter Session Day 4 | Lok Sabha passes amended Central Universities Bill; RS completes economic state debate

Moving the Bill for passage, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan thanks 40 MPs for suggesting amends to the Bill. Replying to accusations of tribal dropouts, discrimination, Mr. Pradhan said that familial constraints had forced many students to leave education. 

Accusing the Congress of inaction, he says, “It has taken us nine years to pass this bill. You were in power for so long and did nothing for tribals. There is no use of shedding crocodile tears now”. Lauding the Modi government for allocating the highest amount of funds for tribals, Mr. Pradhan noted that it was the KCR government which had delayed in procuring land for building the university.

The Bill was then passed via voice vote. Lok Sabha has been adjourned till 11 AM, December 8

Proceedings will resume on Friday, December 8, at 11 a.m.

BSP MP Ritesh Pandey reiterates that the Ekalavya schools across India catering to tribals must be strengthened before such Central Universities were opened. Similarly, Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury urged the ‘selfie-savvy’ PM to be ‘education savvy’, concluding the debate.

“India’s second quarter growth is the highest in the world as India continues to be the fastest-growing economy. The third and fourth largest economies (Japan and Germany) have contracted as well as emerging economies. In comparison, India’s over 7% growth is significant,” she says.

Criticising the Modi government, RSP’s Kollam MP NK Premachandran says,” If we keep selfie points in colleges where students can take photos with the Prime Minister’s picture, states will follow. Chief Ministers will issue notices to keep selfie points in state universities”. He says that such politicisation were the reason for lowering reputation of Indian universities. 

In reply to him, BJP MP Dr. Nishikant Dubey, says, “Why issue with selfie points with PM’s photo? Will they become BJP workers immediately?”. Invoking Babar, Ibrahim Lodhi, Akbar, he claims that Indian students were allowed to study such invaders and no one claimed that their minds were getting corrupted. Minimising drop out rates, he suggests that a committee to study if such students took up admissions elsewhere, were working or changed vocations.

Congress MP Sr. Mohammed Javed questions the Centre as to why Muslim universities like Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) and Jamia Millia Islamia university had their budgets cut by 15% while central universities like Jawaharlal Nehru university (JNU) and Benaras Hindu University (BHU) saw their budgets increased. 

He briefs that his constituency Kishenganj’s university was facing severe staff insufficiency and lack of funds. “Why are we only opening new universities? We must maintain existing universities too,” he says.

We all can take immense pride in the fact that India is in the top three in the world across varied industries ranging from milk, pulses, rice, wheat, jute, sugar cane, to coal, aluminium, real-time digital payments, to limestone production, power production, etc., Ms. Sitharaman says.

The Finance Minister also quotes statistics from schemes under PM Modi and compares them to schemes that ran under previous governments.

Speaking in support of the Central Universities (amendment) Bill, 2023 , BJP MP Dr. Satya Pal Singh lauded the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his efforts to develop the Tribal communities. He urged the Centre to also set up Central universities in Uttar Pradesh too. 

Similarly, Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant, who is supporting the Bill, urged the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to bring a parity in the syllabus in such universities to help tribal students ease into mainstream higher education. 

Samajwadi Party MP Dr. S.T Hasan too pointed out the discrimination faced by tribal, minority students in universities. Urging the Centre to spend more on education, he advised the government to ensure that the lessons imparted by these universities reflect ancient Indian values. 

Ms. Sitharaman quotes dates of similar discussions in the past to refute Congress MP Jairam Ramesh’s allegation that the government has not been willing to hold such debates.

Delivering his first speech in three years, Mr. Bansal says that the first year-and-a-half of his tenure was taken up by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Opposition didn’t “allow the House to function” for the rest of his term.

“India has made progress in every sector in the last decade. The Opposition may have tried to present various indices and data in this House, but even they know that the speed of India’s progress in the last ten years is unimaginable,” he says. 

He also praises PM Modi’s Make In India campaign.

AIMIM MP Imtiaz Jaleel lambasts the Modi government saying, “We have 1182 universities with 56 Central universities. None of them feature in the top 200. Aren’t we focusing more on quantity rather than quality?”. Pointing out that ST community after the Muslims had the highest drop out rates, he condemns the casteism rampant in these universities. 

Rebuking the BJP, he adds, “You claim you made Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, a muslim and Ram Nath Kovind, a Dalit as the President. They deserved it. However, when you inaugurated this palatial palace you did not invite its custodian - the tribal President Droupadi Murmu. You have made SC/ST as Presidents, learn how to respect their communities too”. 

Lok Sabha is debating the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

Congress MP from Mavallikkara (Kerala) Kodikunnil Suresh voiced concerns about the recently tabled data enumerating the dropouts among SC, ST and students from other backward classes. He also reflected upon the increasing number of suicides of students from the communities. Mr Suresh also alleged that faculties in the institutions have been ignorant of the evolving situation. 

He sought if this was due to a “polarising rhetoric” of the government and their abject failure in dealing with the same. The Congress MP asked the government to make it their policy priority to prevent suicides and discrimination. 

The Congress MP, also enumerating that not many appointed Vice Chancellors of Central Universities come from the backward communities, suggested that the government consider creating dedicated bodies to address the issue at large. 

For context: As per a reply tabled in the Lok Sabha on Tuesay, more than 13,500 students from SC, ST and OBC communities had dropped out of courses they were pursuing at prominent educational centres, also including IITs and IIMs. More on this here.

BJP MP Ajay Pratap Singh says that each side has presented numbers, the Treasury benches to show how progress has happened and Opposition benches to show how it hasn’t happened. 

The Indian government is a social welfare government, he says. The 80 crores people being given foodgrains are not being given as a favour, he adds. 

Under the Modi government development model, the poor (has been) forced to eat less while the rich make merry, INC MP L. Hanumanthaiah says. The country is facing high inflation; this is not due to market forces alone but also due to government measures, he suggests. 

Rich getting richer and poor getting poorer is the current status of the economy, he says. The absolute number of poor people has risen by 76 million, to 283 million in rural areas and 63 million in urban areas in 2019-20, he points out. 

Brijlal, BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh, touches upon the aspect of security of the nation. He says that there were many more attacks and blasts before PM Modi came to power. He says that earlier terrorists had made holy places and economic centres targets for their attacks.

The house has taken up for consideration and passing: The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The bill was tabled on Tuesday. Member from Saran (Bihar) Rajiv Pratap Rudy is completing his arguments that could not be done on Tuesday owing to paucity of time. 

BJP MP S. Selvaganabathy points out that the tax-payer base has nearly doubled and collections have risen. Majority of large states have indicated more than 20% growth in GST over last year, he says. The logistics cost in India is 13% of GDP in India, as opposed to 8% in other countries, which make growth of infrastructure difficult, he points out, adding that the National Logistics Policy will tackle this issue. 

The IMF has projected that India will become a $5 trillion economy in 2027, and third largest economy in 2028, he highlights. 

The Rajya Sabha resumes its proceedings at 2 p.m.. It resumes a short-duration discussion on the economic situation in the country, which had begun following a notice submitted by MP Derek O’Brien on December 5, 2023. 

Following the conclusion of the zero hour, the house adjourned for lunch. Proceedings to recommence at 2:30 p.m. 

Leader of Opposition Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, reflecting upon the plight of jute growers in West Bengal and his constituency Murshidabad, stated that though the government had tabled minimum support price (MSP) for procurement of jute, they have not made the procurements. Elaborating on the same, he questioned the purpose of according the MSP, with the growers not left with any option but to sell their produce to intermediaries at unsuitable prices. 

Mr Chowdhury also alleged the Jute Board of India of falling short in their endeavour to provide for diversification and exposure – thus, bothering negatively the plight of growers. 

He sought that the government present the procurement done by them at the prescribed MSP. 

Unrelatedly, Amravati MP Navneet Rana also voiced concerns about the plight of farmers in her constituency considering unseasonal rainfall. She sought the government consider waving off their loans as well as extend financial assistance to mitigate the impact of the crisis. Ms Rana elaborated that the unseasonal rainfall has affected crops of orange, pulses, onion and grapes. 

Question Hour concludes in Rajya Sabha, House adjourned till 2 p.m. 

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal highlights that the number of Supreme Court judges has been increased from 31 to 34. 

In response to a statement by MP Shaktisinh Goel about the Supreme Court stating that the centre should not engage in a pick and choose approach towards the collegium, the Chair asks the member to authenticate his statement and place material before the House. 

Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor urged the education ministry consider hike the stipend amount of non-NEET Ph.D. research scholars which has been stagnant since 2006. He elaborated that the delayed revision translates to financial burden amid rising prices of essentials that impacts their ability to carry out any meaningful research. Dr Tharoor also reflected on the infrastructural shortcomings in research institutions, inadequate support from supervisors and the absence of grievance redressal committees

NCP MP Vandana Chavan highlights that an IIT Bombay report that says that there is rapid soil erosion in Western Ghats. She also says that there are questions about the methodology used in the study. She asks the minister whether this issue will be taken up soon and whether the report would be validated. 

Bhupender Yadav, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change says that the Western Ghats are a very important zone which need to be conserved. and the government will take all steps required. 

The MP asks a supplementary question outlining that despite the reports submitted by two committees set up under Dr. Madhav Gadgil in 2010, and Dr. K Kasturirangan in 2012, only draft notifications have been issued so far. 

Dr. Amar Patnaik, BJD MP from Odisha, highlighted that recently, 20 wayside amenity centres and 12 cafeterias in prominent tourist centres have been handed over to self-help groups in Odisha under the Mission Shakti programme. He asked if the Centre would consider such a scheme all over the country. 

These measures are all taken by State governments, whatever proposals we get from States we will accept, says Tourism Minister G. Kishan Reddy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi enters the Rajya Sabha during Question Hour, prompting cheers from the Treasury benches. 

Will you consider reviewing the air pollution law passed in 1991 and the National Ambient Air Quality Standards in 2008, in light of the growing evidence about the impact of air pollution, asks INC MP Jairam Ramesh in Rajya Sabha. 

Plastic waste is a major contributor to air pollution, would you consider making it mandatory to supply glass or recyclable bottles, asks DMK MP Tiruchi Siva. 

We have banned single-use plastic across the country, Union Minister Bhupendra Yadav replies, and requests that the State authorities also aid in implementing this and other similar measures. 

Replying to a question about official visits to Latin America, Union Minister S. Jaishhankar shared that trade with Latin America is nearing $50 billion, we have an outflow of people, and have designated several enclaves for discussing issues of mutual interest. 

In a separate reply, Mr. Jaishankar shared that ministers, including himself, have attended events by Overseas Friends of BJP while visiting in their official capacity, since these host members of the Indian diaspora.

Responding to the need for providing service roads for expressways in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister for road, transport and highways Nitin Gadkari told the house that he would surely consider the put forth suggestion by the members. Elaborating on the premise, Mr Gadkari told the house that expressways provide important access, and requests received entail demand to either relax laws to attain higher speeds or reduce them. Thus, the dilemma. 

Mr Gadkari on a related note also informed the house that about 4.61 accidents in the calendar year 2022 took lives of 1.68 lakh people – a 10% increase on a year-over-year basis. 67% of these deaths were of people in the 18 to 45 years age group. Stating that this did not reflect “success story”, he urged members’ and stakeholders’ cooperation to address the issue and in turn, mitigate the ensuing loss to GDP. 

CPI (M) MP Dr. John Brittas asks about an Indian citizen being implicated in the killing of US citizen, where the Indian government is applying its might, while there is no such action pertaining to Canada. 

In a reply, Union Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar shares that no specific evidence or inputs have been shared with India by Canada, while US has shared such inputs, which has a nexus with organisaed crime, so the question of equitable treatment one of whom has provided input and the other which has not does not arise. 

Aneel Prasad Hegde, JD(U) MP from Bihar speaks about the need to ban the synthesis, -export, marketing and use of ban-able pesticides in India. Deadly chemicals like Monocrotophos are not being banned, he says, highlighting the need to take action. 

UP, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh are the top three states seeing instances of atrocities against Dalits, INC MP Dr. L Hanumanthaiah shares, highlighting that there are several such instances across the country. He adds that many of these instances target women and vulnerable members of society. He also highlights a recent honour killing in Tirunelvelli of a scheduled caste boy in love with an upper caste woman, and points out that there are several such “maryada hatya” (honour killings) still taking place across the nation. 

TDP MP Kanakamedulu Ravindra Kumar asks for assistance from the central government to tackle the effects of the cyclone Michaung in Andhra Pradesh. He highlights that there have been damages totalling Rs. 7000 crores and requests assistance amounting to Rs. 2500 crores. 

DMK MP Kanimozhi NVN Sonu, raises the issue of continuing spam calls despite TRAI regulations. She highlights that even those registered in the DND (do not disturb) list receive some of these calls. 

INC MP Ranjeet Ranjan speaks about the impact of cinema on youth. She cites the examples of Pushpa and Animal, to say that movies are showing violence and disrespecting of women. Some of these leads are being looked up to as role models by the youth. 

Allaying concerns raised by members about rising air fares, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia pointed to the tariff monitoring unit within his ministry. He elaborated that the unit would pick 60 routes at random and observe the prices thirty days before travel, fifteen days, three, two and one days respectively. 

Mr Scindia also enumerated about the present situation of the industry. He explained that the industry draws demand that varies depending on the season. The Civil Aviation Minister informed that the coronavirus pandemic had particularly affected its viability. - exhibited in losses piling between Rs 55,000 crore to Rs 1 lakh crore. ATF prices too have shot up, he told the house. Notwithstanding the same, Mr Scindia told the house there has been a proportionate decline in fares. “Notwithstanding the circumstances, (the industry) is still providing relief to majority of the population at reasonable cost,” he said. 

Separately, the Civil Aviation Minister also told the house that the central idea would be to keep fares competitive with first AC fares.

Responding to members, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told the house that the commercial flying industry is expected to expand three times to 42 crore passengers from the current 14.5 crore. 

Separately, enumerating on the steps taken by his ministry to ensure better connectivity and viability, the Civil Aviation Minister pointed to the viability gap funding prerogative. He told the house that airports which were erased from the civil aviation landscape were reconstituted by the current dispensation, for example, in Kishangarh (Rajasthan) and Jharsuguda (Odisha). This formed part of the Udhaan Yojna. 

NCP MP Vandana Chavan raises the various issues associated with Ayushmann Bharat (PM-J), including low level of awareness, shortage of healthcare infrastructure and doctors. As per a recent CAG report, there is also the issue of wrong birth dates, duplicate entries of patients, wrong dates of admission and discharge etc. This and similar instances may result in loss of crores of rupees, she highlights

With the permission of the Chair, INC MP raises the issue of hate speech across the nation. 

He says that those giving hate speeches should be prevented from competing in elections, and that action should be taken against elected officials who engage in hate speech. He says that instead of following the hate-filled policy of the British (Divide and Rule), the nation should follow the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi. 

The Business Advisory Committee has allocated two hours each to Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023 and Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023. The Chair announces that a joint discussion of the two Bills will be held for three hours today in the Lok Sabha.

Notice under rule 267 submitted by AAP MP Raghav Chadha is not admitted by Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar. 

Papers, reports and statements are laid on the table of the House as usual. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar expresses dismay at members posting acrimonious messages on X. 

The Rajya Sabha commences proceedings at 11 a.m., with Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar presiding