Rajya Sabha passes The Bills of Lading, 2025
During the discussion, BJD MP Niranjan Bishi noted that modernisation should not come at the cost of accountability, equity and legal clarity. He highlighted that Section 4 (1) of the Bill allowed a bill of lading to be treated as valid even when goods have not been shipped. 'This opens the door for fake bills, fraudulent trading and hawala-type transactions,' he said.
Also Read: Parliament Monsoon Session Day 1 LIVE updates on July 21, 2025
While talking about the electronic bill of lading, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said that it requires a separate framework and legislation. He addressed the concerns about provisions pertaining to the e-bill of lading not being a part of the current Act. He says that an e-bill of lading is not merely a digital version of a physical bill.
Mr. Sonowal also highlighted the development of the Ministry and the Sagarmala programme over the past ten years. He said that the Sagarmala programme focused on evolving world-class ports, particularly in terms of cargo. 'Earlier, there was no connectivity, but now there is a synchronisation between ministries and hence effective operation,' he said, noting that the ports are well connected to railways, roadways and relevant agencies.
Mr. Sonowal moved that the Bills of Lading Bill, 2025, be considered. It was adopted clause-by-clause and passed.
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Indian Express
9 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Daily subject-wise quiz: Polity and Governance MCQs on panchayat elections, Article 356 of the Constitution and more (Week 121)
UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of daily subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Attempt today's subject quiz on Polity and Governance to check your progress. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at With reference to article 356 of the Constitution, consider the following statements: 1. According to the provisions of Article 356, the President's Rule in a state can be imposed for one month at a time. 2. It empowers the President to withdraw only legislative powers and not the executive powers and financial powers of any state. 3. Article 356 was inspired by the Government of India Act of 1909. How many of the above statements are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — The Union Home Minister moved a resolution in Rajya Sabha to extend the President's Rule in Manipur for another six months. Article 356 of the Indian Constitution contains provisions for the imposition of 'President's Rule' in a state, removing an elected government. — Article 356 was inspired by Section 93 of the Government of India Act of 1935. Hence, statement 3 is not correct. — Article 356 empowers the President to withdraw executive and legislative powers of any state 'if he is satisfied that a situation has arisen in which the government of the state cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution'. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. — According to the provisions of Article 356, the President's Rule in a state can be imposed for six months at a time for a maximum duration of three years. Every six months, Parliamentary approval to impose President's Rule will be required again. Hence, statement 1 is not correct. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. Consider the following statements: 1. The Chairman or Speaker, or person acting as such, shall not vote in the first instance, but shall have and exercise a casting vote in the case of an equality of votes. 2. The quorum to constitute a meeting of either House of Parliament shall be one-fifth of the total number of members of the House. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation — The Chairman or Speaker, or person acting as such, shall not vote in the first instance, but shall have and exercise a casting vote in the case of an equality of votes. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — Either House of Parliament has the authority to act despite any vacancy in its membership, and any proceedings in Parliament are valid even if it is later discovered that someone who was not entitled to do so sat, voted, or otherwise participated in the proceedings. — Until Parliament by law otherwise provides, the quorum to constitute a meeting of either House of Parliament shall be one-tenth of the total number of members of the House. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. — If at any time during a meeting of a House there is no quorum, it shall be the duty of the Chairman or Speaker, or person acting as such, either to adjourn the House or to suspend the meeting until there is a quorum. Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer. (Source: Constitution of India) With reference to the panchayat elections, consider the following statements: 1. All the seats in a Panchayat shall be filled by persons chosen by indirect election. 2. The ratio between the population of the territorial area of a Panchayat at any level and the number of seats in such Panchayat to be filled by election varies throughout the state. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation — There shall be constituted in every State, Panchayats at the village, intermediate and district levels. — Panchayats at the intermediate level may not be constituted in a State having a population not exceeding twenty lakhs. — The ratio of the population of a Panchayat's territorial area at whatever level to the number of seats to be filled by election shall, to the greatest extent possible, remain same throughout the State. Hence, statement 2 is not correct. — All seats in a Panchayat shall be filled by people elected directly from territorial constituencies in the Panchayat area. Hence, statement 1 is not correct. Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer. (Other Source: Constitution of India) Consider the following statements about the Ninth Schedule: 1. The schedule became part of the Constitution by the Twenty-Seventh Amendment. 2. It contains a list of central and state laws that cannot be challenged in court on the violation of fundamental rights. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 only (b) 2 only (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 Explanation — The Ninth Schedule contains a list of central and state laws which cannot be challenged in court. Currently, 284 such laws are shielded from judicial review. — Most of the laws protected under the Schedule concern agriculture/land issues. — The Schedule became a part of the Constitution in 1951 when the document was amended for the first time. Hence, statement 1 is not correct. — It was created by the new Article 31B, which along with 31A was brought in by the government to protect laws related to agrarian reform and for abolishing the Zamindari system. While A. 31A extends protection to 'classes' of laws, A. 31B shields specific laws or enactments. — The First Amendment added 13 laws to the Schedule. Subsequent amendments in 1955, 1964, 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1984, 1990, 1994, and 1999 have taken the number of protected laws to 284. — When the Tamil Nadu law was challenged in 2007 (I R Coelho v State of Tamil Nadu), the Supreme Court ruled in a unanimous nine-judge verdict that while laws placed under Ninth Schedule cannot be challenged on the grounds of violation of fundamental rights, they can be challenged on the ground of violating the basic structure of the Constitution. Hence, statement 2 is correct. Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer. With reference to the preamble, consider the following statements: 1. The ideals behind the preamble were first laid down in the Objectives Resolution. 2. The preamble is 'non-justiciable'. 3. The 42nd Amendment to the Constitution replaced the words 'sovereign democratic republic' with 'sovereign socialist secular democratic republic'. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All three (d) None Explanation — A preamble serves as an introduction to a document and contains its basic principles and goals. — When the Indian Constitution was being drafted, the ideals behind the preamble were first laid down in the Objectives Resolution, adopted by the Constituent Assembly in 1947. Hence, statement 1 is correct. — Additionally, the violation of any principle mentioned in the preamble cannot be a reason to go to court, meaning the preamble is 'non-justiciable' — however, judgments of courts can cite it as an additional factor in their reasoning, given that it constitutes the spirit of the Constitution. Hence, statement 2 is correct. — The 42nd Amendment to the Constitution, passed in 1976 when the Emergency was in place, replaced the words 'sovereign democratic republic' with 'sovereign socialist secular democratic republic'. Hence, statement 3 is correct. — The amendment also changed 'unity of the nation' to 'unity and integrity of the nation'. Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer. Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 119) Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 120) Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 120) Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 120) Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 120) Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 120) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
Indian Express
9 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Recovery amount at Rs 338 crore: Govt raised tax demand of Rs 35,104 crore under foreign black money law over last 10 years
The government has raised tax demand of Rs 35,104 crore under the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015 over the last decade, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday. However, recovery amount in the form of tax, penalty and interest demand under the Act has been much lower at Rs 338 crore during July 1, 2015 to March 31, 2025 along with 163 prosecution complaints filed till March 31, 2025, data shared in the Upper House showed. In a written response to a question by CPI(M) MP John Brittas, wherein he asked about details of international deposits, Chaudhary said tax demand of Rs 21,719 crore has been created as a result of completed assessments under the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015 during July 1, 2015 to March 31, 2025. In addition, tax demand of Rs 13,385 crore has been raised till March 31, 2025 on account of penalties imposed under various sections of the Act. On the question of whether Indian-linked funds in Swiss banks surged more than three times the previous year's amount, Chaudhary said there are some media reports based on Swiss National Bank (SNB) statistics which mention that Indian linked funds in Swiss banks have risen in 2024 as compared to previous year's amount. However, Chaudhary, pointed out that as per Swiss authorities, the data in respect of SNB statistics includes, inter alia, amounts due in respect of customer deposits (including in foreign branches of Swiss Banks located in any country), other liabilities as well as amounts due to banks. 'The Swiss authorities have also clarified that the SNB annual banking statistics should not be used for analysing deposits held by residents of India in Switzerland,' he said. Indian money in Swiss banks more than tripled in 2024 to 3.5 billion Swiss francs (CHF), or approximately Rs 37,600 crore on the back of a huge jump in funds held through local branches and other financial institutions, news agency PTI had reported last month. On the query to provide details of outstanding tax demand raised from the data shared with India via Automatic Exchange of Information under India-Switzerland tax agreement, the Minister said there is no centralised data for the specific query on country-wise undisclosed foreign income and the action taken. 'Tax demand arising in cases of undisclosed foreign income or assets can pertain to multiple jurisdictions. Country-wise bifurcation of such demand is not maintained centrally,' Chaudhary said. For details and status of enquiries conducted regarding Swiss holdings, the Minister said such enquiries are conducted on a case-by-case basis by the jurisdictional authorities. 'Whenever any instance of tax evasion is detected, appropriate action under Direct Tax Laws, including searches, surveys, enquiries, assessment of income, levy of taxes, penalties, as well as filing of prosecution complaints in criminal courts, as may be applicable, is taken,' he said. Replying to the question about the steps taken to recover unpaid taxes, penalties, or interest by Indian citizens or entities holding Swiss deposits, Chaudhary said the Income Tax Department has established a mechanism for recovery of demand that consists of outstanding tax, penalty and interest as per the provisions of the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax Act, 2015, which apply to cases of undisclosed foreign income and assets in any country abroad. Such taxes, penalties and interest form part of the total tax liability of each assessee and is recovered in accordance with law, he said. Aanchal Magazine is Senior Assistant Editor with The Indian Express and reports on the macro economy and fiscal policy, with a special focus on economic science, labour trends, taxation and revenue metrics. With over 13 years of newsroom experience, she has also reported in detail on macroeconomic data such as trends and policy actions related to inflation, GDP growth and fiscal arithmetic. Interested in the history of her homeland, Kashmir, she likes to read about its culture and tradition in her spare time, along with trying to map the journeys of displacement from there. ... Read More
Hindustan Times
21 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
If Pak not able to take action against terrorism, India can help: Rajnath Singh in Rajya Sabha
New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said if Pakistan cannot take action against terrorism on its soil, India is ready to help it as Indian forces are capable of fighting terror on the other side of the border as well. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh speaks during the discussion on Operation Sindoor in the Rajya Sabha, during the Monsoon Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on Tuesday. (Sansad TV/ANI Video Grab)(Sansad TV/ANI Grab) Initiating a special discussion on Operation Sindoor in Rajya Sabha, Singh said three terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack have been eliminated by Indian forces. He further said that Operation Sindoor - India's response to the Pahalgam attack - has been halted, and can be resumed anytime if Pakistan indulges in terror activities in India again. "India wants terrorism to end in the whole world, including Pakistan... I had advised Pakistan earlier as well, and today I want to say again, that if you are unable to take effective action against terrorism, take India's help. India's forces are capable of taking effective action against terrorism this side of the border, as well as on the other side. Pakistan has already witnessed this during Operation Sindoor," he said. "If Pakistan commits any terror incidents in future, we will relaunch Operation Sindoor without hesitation," he said. Singh stressed that our vision is that Operation Sindoor should carry on continuously. "There can be a comma but no full stop." While expressing surprise over questions raised by some opposition leaders over getting back Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, he said, "I am surprised at this demand, because when they were in power they did just the opposite." "It has always been the stand of the Bharatiya Janata Party that the day is not far when the people of Pak-occupied Kashmir will have the privilege of becoming a part of the Indian governance system," he said. Targeting the opposition, Singh said, "Some people think that since Pakistan has nuclear weapons, we should only negotiate with them. Because of this nuclear bluff, we have lost countless civilians. Our vision is that we will give a befitting reply." The defence minister stressed that no religious, ideological, or political reason can justify terrorism. He also congratulated the security forces for killing three terrorists involved in the April 22 Pahalgam attack in which 26 people were killed. He said Home Minister Amit Shah has provided in Lok Sabha details of the joint operation by the forces. Singh said post-Pahalgam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with the service chiefs, and gave them free hand to use their wisdom, strategic understanding and regional security situation to decide on the response. He said the military leadership also showed maturity, and added that Operation Sindoor was aimed at giving a clear message that India will take strong action and go to any extent against terror. "Our action was in self-defence, it was not expansionist...," Singh said. He said Operation Sindoor displays India's new policy against terrorism, and ends the perception that India is a "soft state". "Op Sindoor was not just a military operation, it was a display of our policy against terror. On April 22, the cowardly Pahalgam attack happened. They asked people their religion before killing them. This was an incident which showed that cross border terror was trying to disintegrate India," Singh said. "The aim was to destroy terror infrastructure and the message of zero tolerance for terror. The politico-military objective was to punish Pakistan for the proxy war it is fighting in the form of terrorism," he said. "We are redefining our identity, Operation Sindoor is an example. Terrorists had thought India was a soft state... Operation Sindoor is a game changer. We have ensured terrorism becomes a misadventure for Pakistan," he said. Singh said for the future, the importance of the operation is that "the Indian citizen is no more a vulnerable citizen of a soft state, they are proud citizens of a strong India". Slamming the opposition, he said if it felt the government did not take proper action, it should come up with an alternative policy. "When the sindoor of our mothers and sisters was wiped away, should we engage in diplomatic talks with Pakistan? Should we hand over dossiers to Pakistan? Should we go to international organizations and just talk? When our opposition colleagues were in power, whenever there were terrorist attacks, they used to take such steps," he said. Singh said Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) urged India to stop the hostilities, and India accepted it on the condition that the operation would be suspended, not terminated. "If Pakistan commits any terror incidents in future, we will relaunch Operation Sindoor without hesitation," he asserted. He said the forces achieved the goals set under the operation. Singh appealed to the international community to stop fundings for Pakistan, stating that a major portion goes into funding terror activities. "It is essential to expose countries that fund and provide shelter to terrorism in front of the world today. A large portion of the money or economic aid that Pakistan receives is spent on the factory of terrorism," he said. He also slammed the United Nations over Pakistan's appointment to the key counter-terrorism committee. "The United Nations Security Council has appointed Pakistan as the Vice-Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Panel. The surprising thing is that this Counter-Terrorism Panel was formed after the 9/11 attacks. It is also no secret that Pakistan gave shelter to the mastermind of that attack," he said. "We have always observed that countries like Pakistan have consistently supported terrorism. What a contradiction it is that both India and Pakistan gained independence at the same time, but today, while India is recognised worldwide as the Mother of Democracy, Pakistan has emerged as the Father of Global Terrorism," he said. Singh also India today is not only defending its borders but is also building a system that is making us stronger from strategic, economic, and technological perspectives. "Earlier, we were entirely dependent on foreign countries for defense equipment, but today I can proudly say that India is rapidly becoming self-reliant in the field of defense," he said. "You will be pleased to know that India's defense export has increased approximately 35 times compared to 2014. In the year 2013-14, defense exports from India were only 686 crore, which have now risen to 23,622 crore in 2024-25," he said.
