Parliament updates: Lok Sabha passes National Medical Commission Bill to replace Medical Council of India, cap MBBS fees

Lok Sabha passes National Medical Commission Bill

The Bill would replace the 63-year-old Medical Council of India (MCI) with the National Medical Commission, aiming to reform the medical education sector.

Jairam Ramesh welcomes proposed amendments to IBC Bill

Jairam Ramesh said he welcomed  the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and the proposed amendments as well. “There is no harm in learning and evolving. In the second round of amendments, I said there will be a third round of amendments, and here we are. And now, I’m saying there will be a fourth round of amendments and there is no harm in admitting it,” he said.

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Harsh Vardhan spar over NMC Bill; voting underway

Leader of Congress Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Union minister Harsh Vardhan exchanged barbs in the Lok Sabha over National Medical Commission Bill as Chowdhury demanded the Bill be sent to the Select Committee. The House is now voting on the Bill.

Voting in #LokSabha on The National Medical Commission Bill, 2019 #लोकसभामेंआज#NMCBill pic.twitter.com/psSdQU1vot

— Lok Sabha TV (@loksabhatv) July 29, 2019

No harm in revisiting macroeconomic policies, says Manoj Jha

Opposing the IBC Amendment Bill, 2019, RJD’s Manoj Jha said the amendment Bill will allow for “shadow litigations”. “I think there is no harm in revisiting some of our macroeconomic policies and priorities,” he said.

Samajwadi Party MP says amendment to IBC Bill is inadequate to meet challenges

Samajwadi Party MP Ravi Prakash Verma backed Kapil Sibal on his view that the problems arising after the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2019 becomes an Act will be a challenge for the country. “There aren’t enough judges or insolvency experts in courts (NCLTs),” he said, speaking on solving  the problem. “The Amendment is inadequate to meet the challenges.”

Parliament passes Bill to regulate unregulated deposit schemes

The Rajya Sabha has cleared ‘The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Scheme Bill, 2019’.

Kapil Sibal slams Centre over unemployment

As Rajya Sabha discussed The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Amendment Bill, 2019, Congress leader Kapil Sibal lashed out at the government for not doing enough to deal with unemployment issue. “The backbone of the economy is the MSME sector. If you look at insolvency proceedings, only 94 petitions have been resolved so far, and 3,378 have commencement of liquidation. In other words, four out of five companies go into liquidation. You can realise what impact it has on employment sector. On one hand, you’re seeking to resolve this matter but on the other hand you’re creating huge unemployment issues,” he said.

He further hit out at the Centre for “creating an oligopoly in the country” and demanded that the Bill be sent to a Select Committee.

Manish Tewari asks for withdrawal of NMC Bill

Congress MP Manish Tewari said that the constitution of autonomous boards and the National Medical Council presents a “conflict of interest”. He said that a certain clause has been designed to attract retired bureaucrats, asking for the withdrawal of the Bill.

National Medical Commission Bill to be the biggest reform: Harsh Vardhan

Genuine concerns over the National Medical Commission Bill have been addressed and the legislation will be one of the biggest reforms, Union minister Harsh Vardhan said in Lok Sabha on Monday. Moving the bill for consideration in Lok Sabha, Vardhan said it seeks to put in place a new structure to tackle challenges in the medical education sector. 

PTI

Rajya Sabha members support bill to regulate unregulated deposits schemes

Cutting across party lines, members in the Rajya Sabha on Monday supported a bill that seeks to regulate unregulated deposit schemes in the country and protect the money of poor depositors.

CPI-M leader Elamaram Karim, however, moved a resolution opposing the ordinance route taken by the government to bring this bill just before Lok Sabha polls. Asserting that he does not question the merit of the bill, Karim said it was not a good practice to bypass Parliamentary procedure and bring an ordinance. Every bill should be debated in Parliament.

PTI

Govt has constituted inter-ministerial group to address gaps in existing law: Anurag Thakur in RS

MoS Finance Anurag Thakur while replying to the discussion over the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill said that government has constituted an inter-ministerial group to address gaps in existing legislation. The recommendations included a new central law to tackle these schemes, he said.

BSP MP asks for 50% reservation for students from rural areas in primary health centres
 

BSP MP Shyam Singh Yadav said that the Medical Council of India was an autonomous body but the National Medical Commission is not an autonomous body. He also said that there should be people from varied fields in the medical panel to avoid vested interests. 

Yadav also asked for 50 percent seats to be reserved in primary health centres for students from the village and notifying doctors with private practice to avoid a clash of interest due to their personal agenda. He also negated the need for a National Exit Test.

YSR Congress MP says India needs more doctors

In Lok Sabha, while discussing the NMC Billl, YSRCP MP Sri Krishna Devarayalu said that India produces 65,000 medical students every year, but considering the population, the number should be higher.

YSRCP supports Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill

Nominated member Narendra Jadhav called the Bill a much-needed legislation, after the Jan Dhan Yojana, which he said, encouraged savings mobilisation. YSR Congress MP Vijaysai Reddy also supported the Bill saying it has various good features like the central database where information can be shared to prevent repeat offenders from committing crimes.

Rajya Sabha continues debate on Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill

TRS MP Banda Prakash (TRS) welcomed the Bill saying there is a network of individuals taking deposits using commission agents. Meanwhile, DMK’s P Wilson pointed out that Tamil Nadu already has a law to protect the interests of depositors.

What is The National Medical Commission Bill, 2019?

The National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill seeks to replace the 63-year-old Medical Council of India (MCI) to reform the medical sector in India. The bill, introduced by Health minister Harsh Vardhan in the Lok Sabha, also seeks to repeal the Indian Medical Council Act 1956, stating that the Council set up under it was corrupt. It has been alleged that the process by which the MCI regulated medical colleges was flawed.

The new bill has the provision for making national standards in medical education uniform by proposing that the final year MBBS exam be treated as an entrance test for PG and a screening test for students who graduated in medicine from foreign countries. This exam will be called the National Exit Test (NEXT).

Lok Sabha adjourned till 2.10 pm

Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm  

NMC Bill a “joke”, says A Raja, asks govt what is it doing to remove corruption in medical council

DMK MP A Raja opposed the NMC Bill. He termed the advisory boards proposed in the Bill as “joke” while asking how the government planned to eliminate corruption in the Medical Council of India (MCI). He said the way the Bill has been brought about is “undemocratic”.

Doctors continue to protest against NMC Bill in Delhi

Doctors and medical students across the country have been opposing The National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, 2019. On Monday, several doctors held protests outside the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi.

Delhi: Doctors hold protest against the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, 2019, outside Nirman Bhawan. pic.twitter.com/wNiUViGvRY

— ANI (@ANI) July 29, 2019

‘Why isn’t there a law against attack on doctors?’ BJP MP Mahesh Sharma asks in Lok Sabha

During the discussion on the NMC Bill, BJP MP Dr Mahesh Sharma said that “doctors are not machines or God” and need to be treated as humans. Referring to attacks on doctors, he asked why there hasn’t been a law to prosecute such crimes.

Venakaiah Naidu breaks down as Rajya Sabha pays tributes to S Jaipal Reddy

Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday broke down as he read out an obituary reference for his old friend and former Union minister S Jaipal Reddy, saying he was pained by his death. When the House met for the day, Naidu read out an obituary reference for Reddy, who passed away on Sunday at the age of 77. Reddy, who represented the state of Andhra Pradesh in the Upper House for two terms — from April 1990 to April 1996 and from September 1997 to March 1998, was a Union minister holding different portfolios during 1997-98 and 2004-14, he said. “In passing away of Shri S Jaipal Reddy, the country has lost a veteran parliamentarian, an outstanding orator and an able administrator.”

PTI

Congress opposes National Medical Commission Bill

Opposing the NMC Bill, Congress MP Vincent H Pala said that the legislation is a dilution of power from the doctors’ fraternity to the government. But BJP’s Mahesh Sharma responded to him saying that the government’s healthcare schemes have helped the majority of the country.

Rajya Sabha discusses The Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019

Congress MP T Subburami Reddy while supporting the Bill supported to repeal the Banning of Unregulated Deposits Scheme Ordinance. Speaking on the same, BJP MP Suresh Prabhu said that deposit mobilisation happened, but the government has to ensure that no one is taken for a ride. He said that those who are in this space will be brought under the legislation.

National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill taken up in Lok Sabha

Rajya Sabha is discussing the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Bill, 2019. Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha has taken up the National Medical Commission Bill for consideration and passing.

Rajya Sabha adjourned till noon following ruckus over Unnao rape survivor’s accident

Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 12 noon after ruckus ensued in the House over Unnao rape survivor’s accident that took place on Sunday afternoon. Opposition raised protest over the incident and asked for CBI enquiry despite Chairperson Naidu asking the home minister to take note of the matter.

Ram Gopal Yadav raises issue of Unnao raper survivor’s accident in Rajya Sabha

Raising the matter during the Zero Hour in the House, SP member Ram Gopal Yadav alleged that an attempt was made to “kill” the survivor. Other members of the Upper House rose up to support him and protest in the House over the incident.

The Dam Safety Bill, 2019 introduced in Lok Sabha

Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat introduced The Dam Safety Bill, 2019 in the Lok Sabha and said that 92 percent of the dams in the country are built on inter-state rivers. Following him, Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan rose to move The National Medical Commission Bill the Lower House.

RTI Bill wasn’t sent for scrutiny as there was no consensus: Rajya Sabha Chairperson informs the House

In the Rajya Sabha, the Chairperson M Venkaiah Naidu informed the House that Opposition members met him in person and expressed anguish on Bills being taken up without proper scrutiny. He said that for the last two years eight of 10 Bills were sent to Standing Committees while the ohe other two Bills were passed unanimously. The Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill was sent to Standing and Select Committees. The Opposition wanted the RTI Bill to be sent to Select Committee, but couldn’t because there wasn’t consensus, he said.

Akhilesh Yadav rakes up issue of Unnao rape survivor’s accident

After SP MP Azam Khan apologised in the Lok Sabha, party chief Akhilesh Yadav riased the issue of Unnao rape survivor’s accident in the Lok Sabha saying, “What about the ‘beti’ in Unnao? We should also talk about that.”

Samajwadi Party MP, Akhilesh Yadav after SP MP Azam Khan's apology, in Lok Sabha: Azam Khan ji has said what he wanted to say. What about the 'beti' in Unnao? We should also talk about that. pic.twitter.com/OSh5axRJFr

— ANI (@ANI) July 29, 2019

Azam Khan’s remarks have hurt both men and women, he is a ‘habitual offender’: Rama Devi

After Azam Khan apologised for his sexist comments, BJP MP Rama Devi said Khan’s remarks have hurt both women and men in India. “He will not understand this. Inki aadat bigadi hui hai, zaroorat se zada bigadi hui hai. I have not come here to hear such comments, she remarked.

SP Azam Khan in Lok Sabha: Meri aisi koi bhavna Chair ke prati na thi na ho sakti hai. Mere bhashan aur acharan ko sara sadan janta hai, iske bawjood bhi Chair ko aisa lagta hai ki mere se koi galti hui hai toh main uski kshama chahta hun. pic.twitter.com/2lMB07llyQ

— ANI (@ANI) July 29, 2019

Opposition objects to dam safety bill; Shashi tharoor asks for it to be sent to parliamentary committee

Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Shekawat sought permission to introduce The Dam Safety Bill, 2019. However, Congress MPs Gaurav Gogoi and ​NK Premachandran opposed it saying water is a state subject. Shashi Throor suggested that the Bill should be sent to a parliamentary standing committee whereas BJD’s Bhartruhari Mahtab questioned the legislative competence of the Bill.

Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 11.24 am

Rajya Sabha proceedings were on Monday adjourned for 15 minutes after smoke started to emit from a voting-cum-mike console on a seat in the treasury benches.

Azam Khan apologises for sexist remarks in Lok Sabha; Speaker urges members to not use unparliamentary language 

SP MP Azam Khan on Monday apologised in the Lok Sabha for sexist remark made on BJP MP and Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker Rama Devi. “I had no intention to hurt the Chair and if the Chair feels insulted by my comments, I apologise,” Khan said. At this point, Rama Devi rose to speak. She lashed out at Khan and told the House that his penchant to make derogatory comments against women is a longstanding issue and must be addressed. “He has a habit of making such statements even outside Parliament but I will not have it. I am a senior MP and I haven’t come here to hear such words,” she said. Calling Azam Khan a ‘habitual offender’, Rama Devi also slammed Samajwadi Party party chief Akhilesh Yadav for coming to Khan’s defence and called him Khan’s ‘mouthpiece’. 

Meanwhile, the Speaker said: “The House belongs to all. It runs on everyone’s support. I request you all to address the Chair when speaking,” reiterating that members should refrain from using language that would affect the dignity of the House.

SP, CPI, AAP to raise issue of Unnao rape survivor’s accident in Lok Sabha 

Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi Party (SP) MP told ANI: “We are demanding CBI investigation in Unnao accident and I will raise the issue in Zero Hour in Lok Sabha. Samajwadi Party (SP) Rajya Sabha MPs will raise the issue in the Upper House also.

Azam Khan meets Lok Sabha Speaker as members urge Om Birla to take ’exemplary action’ against SP MP

Samajwadi Party MPs Akhilesh Yadav and Azam Khan are attending a meeting with Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla at his office in Parliament. BJP’s Rama Devi is also present at the meeting. According to reports, Khan is likely to apologise for his sexist remarks against Rama Devi as the Lok Sabha may pass a resolution authorising Om Birla to take ’exemplary action’ against him.

Congress MP K Suresh gives adjournment notice in LS over Unnao rape survivor’s accident

K Suresh, Congress’s Chief Whip in Lok Sabha, has given Adjournment Motion Notice in the Lower House over the ‘Unnao incident.’