About the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2019
The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2019 seeks to amend the Central Universities Act, 2009, which establishes universities for teaching and research in various states.
The Bill provides for the establishment of two central universities in Andhra Pradesh to be known as the Central University of Andhra Pradesh and the Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh. The Central Tribal University will take additional measures to provide higher educational and research facilities in tribal art, culture, and customs primarily to the tribal population of India.
Parliament Updates: Rajya Sabha passes AERA (Amendment) Bill aimed at changing definition of major airport
Parliament Updates: The Centre has informed the Lok Sabha that in the last three years, a total of 427 and 5049 people have died in police custody and judicial custody respectively. NHRC has recommended disciplinary NBC's action against 20 erring public servants during last 3 years.

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After a stormy Session on Monday, the Parliament is set to debate some key issues on Wednesday from the security situation in North East to the reports of tensions of the India-China border
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The Congress party has given a notice for Adjournment Motion in Lok Sabha today over the alleged reports of
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Apart from this, Congress MP Manish Tewari has given Zero Hour Notice for discussion on the UN report on violation of human rights in Jammu and Kashmir
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About the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2019
The Act defines a major airport as a civilian airport with annual passenger traffic of over 15 lakh. The Bill increases this threshold to over 35 lakh.
Under the Bill, AERA will not determine: (i) the tariff, (ii) tariff structures, or (iii) the development fees, in cases where these amounts were a part of the bid document on the basis of which the airport operations were awarded.
Air India has come to incur an unsustainable debt burden, says Hardeep Singh Puri
Stating that India has the third largest civil aviation sector in the world, and one of the faster growing sectors, Minister of Civil Aviation (Independent Charge) Hardeep Singh Puri that Air India’s maharaja is the symbol, sentiment and pride of India.
“We all want to ensure that Air India remains in Indian hands. The airline has run up Rs 70,000 crore as cumulative loss. It is a first class asset in terms of fleet and destinations it flies to and well-qualified employees. The airline has come to incur an unsustainable debt burden. Let’s take not our stand based on whether we are for private or public sector. We are answerable to the citizen to provide quality services at low cost,” he said.
Stop this strategy of selling off public sector entities, have faith on government employees, says AAP’s Sanjay Singh
The Airport authority of India registered an income of Rs 14,000 crore in 2017-18, AAP’s Sanjay Singh said, adding that it seems that the government wants to incur losses by giving airports into private hands.
“Six to eight airports have been given to Adani already. The strategy of privatisation is of no use. You look to privatise LIC, Coal India, Air India, BSNL, Railways. You have already privatised electricity and water supplies. At this rate, the country will be sold off one day,” Singh said.
He also talked in the Rajya Sabha about the woes of laid off Jet Airways employees.
UDAAN scheme has ensured that even those wearing 'hawaai chappal' can fly, says Suresh Prabhu
During discussion on the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2019, former Union Minister Suresh Prabhu called UDAAN a landmark scheme that makes people fly. He says good airports are needed for better aviation industry and the scheme has ensured that "hawaai chappal pehenne wale bhi hawai safar kar rhae hai".
"We have as many as 130 airports. They are managed by several parties, including the Centre, state government, Army and even private players. This makes regulation important. Public interest can be enhanced through PPP," Prabhu said.
Saving Air India is the opposition and ruling party’s responsibility, says RJD’s Manoj Jha
In the Rajya Sabha, RJD’s Manoj Jha said there is turbulence in the civil aviation sector. “When a dozen airlines have disappeared into thin air, it impacts families and leaves you with bleeding images. We are seeking solution from sources that are the reasons behind these problems,” he said on the proposed privatisation of public sector undertakings, including Air India and railways.
The national carrier is the pride of our country, Jha said, urging the House to save it, placing the responsibility of the same on both the Opposition and ruling party.
Government is privatising prestigious PSU’s built over decades, says CPM’s Elamaram Kareem
Speaking in the Rajya Sabha about the reasons behind limited resources available with public sector undertakings, CPM’s Elamaram Kareem said that instead of improving services to the people, the government is handing over their activities into private hands.
“You are privatising prestigious PSUs, built over decades. Even drinking water is profitable for private entities. Not only airport, real estate assets built by airport authorities being given to the private sector. Air India went on sale during the previous term of the government and now it is being proposed again. Same goes for Indian Railways. I urge the government to not give these assets into private hands,” he said.
The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2019 taken up in RS
The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (Amendment) Bill, 2019 is being discussed in Rajya Sabha. It amends a 2008 Act which established the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA).
Parliament Updates: The Centre has informed the Lok Sabha that in the last three years, a total of 427 and 5049 people have died in police custody and judicial custody respectively. NHRC has recommended disciplinary NBC's action against 20 erring public servants during last 3 years.
The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned once again, the third time today, till 2 pm amid continuing protests from AIADMK MPs over inclusion of Tamil as a langiage in the postal department exam.
Road Transport and Highways Ministry built over 40,000 kilometre highways in the last 5 years, which is 60 percent higher than the previous five years, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said in Lok Sabha.
Just a day after MDMK leader Vaiko's comment against Hindi raged a controversy, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha, the Ministry of Home Affairs revealed, it has spent 69.13 crore rupees on promoting Hindi as the official language.
NDTV reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is upset over the absence of ministers on parliament duty from the House. The TV channel reported that the prime minister expressed his displeasure at today's meeting of party lawmakers in the Parliament House. He has asked for the names of all absentee ministers by evening.
TMC MP Derek O'Brien said, "Parliament is supposed to scrutinise bills. Now, in the first two weeks on this Lok Sabha session, zero per cent of bills have been scrutinised. We have to scrutinise the bills, otherwise, what are we doing in Parliament."
"Being a responsible Opposition party, we will hold the government responsible and save the democracy," he added,
After a stormy Session on Monday, the Parliament is set to debate some key issues on Wednesday from the security situation in North East to the reports of tensions of the India-China border
The Congress party has given a notice for Adjournment Motion in Lok Sabha today over the alleged reports of "tension at Indo-China border." Apart from this, Congress MP Manish Tewari has given Zero Hour Notice for discussion on the UN report on violation of human rights in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Lok Sabha was scheduled to discuss the security situation in the Northeastern States of India with Minister of States, Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy expected to make a statement over the issue. Discussion and voting on the Demands for Grants under the control of the Ministries of Rural Development and Agriculture and Farmers Welfare is also expected to come up today.
The Rajya Sabha, meanwhile, will concentrate on Bill further to provide for the establishment and incorporation of the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre. The Bill further to amend the Central Universities Act, 2009 will also come up for discussion in the upper House today.
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