Parliament watch: Delay in land acquisition, capping apprentices and more
Road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari told Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that 163 road projects-about 28% of the total-are delayed due to land acquisition hurdles. Over the past two years, acquisitions have taken one to three years to complete, he said, citing disputes over alignment, land type and ownership, compensation, unrevised circle rates, assessment of structures, project length, land quantum, and geographical location.
MPLADS: Govt Flags Delays, Low Utilisation
The statistics ministry holds quarterly and monthly meetings with states, Union Territories, and districts to review implementation of the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS), Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation Rao Inderjit Singh told Lok Sabha on Wednesday. For objective monitoring, regular pendency reports are shared with states and Union Territories, flagging works left unsanctioned for over 45 days, incomplete beyond one year of sanction, or unpaid for more than three months, he added. Of 538 constituencies across states and UTs, 61.5% had utilised less than 60% of their allocation, according to data shared by the minister. Utilisation largely depends on recommendations made by MPs and is also impacted by the model code of conduct during central, state, UT, and local body elections.
Capping Apprentices
The 38th meeting of the Central Apprenticeship Council (CAC) discussed a proposal to cap apprenticeship engagement at 25% of an establishment's workforce, minister of state for skill development and entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary told Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. He said the issue needs further deliberation and was not put up for a decision.
PANEL TO REFORM AIIMS
NITI Aayog member VK Paul-led committee has been formed to create a roadmap to transform AIIMS, New Delhi, into a premier institution for medical research and practice, Rao Inderjit Singh, minister of state (independent charge), for ministry of planning, said on Wednesday in response to a question in Lok Sabha. This committee's mandate involves thoroughly examining the existing systems and processes at AIIMS and proposing significant reforms, he said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
29 minutes ago
- NDTV
Parliament Session Over, Amit Shah Crafts BJP's Poll Push in South
New Delhi: The monsoon session of Parliament wrapped up, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has shifted focus to the southern battlegrounds of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, signalling the BJP's intent to expand its footprint in states where it has long remained a marginal force. On Thursday evening, Mr Shah landed in Kerala's Kochi to chair a key meeting of the BJP state leaders at the Renai Hotel, Palarivattom. The gathering, due on Friday morning, brings together senior leaders including Prakash Javadekar and state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar to chalk out strategies for the local body polls in November and the 2026 Assembly elections. This marks the first of Mr Shah's monthly reviews in Kerala, where the BJP has set itself the ambitious goal of winning around 20 per cent of local body wards, with a particular push in Thiruvananthapuram, Thrissur, and several municipalities. By projecting itself as a clean, development-driven alternative, the party is looking to erode both LDF and UDF vote shares, banking on the recent Lok Sabha momentum and narrow misses in the 2020 civic polls. From Kerala, Mr Shah will head to Tirunelveli in southern Tamil Nadu on Saturday to oversee booth-level mobilisation across the Kumari Mandalam, which covers five Lok Sabha constituencies including Tenkasi, Virudhunagar, Thoothukudi, and Kanyakumari. The meeting is particularly significant for state BJP president Nainar Nagendran who is from Tirunelveli. Mr Shah is also likely to visit Mr Nagendran's home for lunch, in a gesture aimed at rallying cadres and consolidating local support. The region is crucial for the BJP, which performed relatively better here in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, even finishing second in some constituencies. The visit also comes on the heels of actor Vijay's high-profile Madurai rally, where he took on both BJP and the DMK, underscoring the churn in Tamil Nadu's political landscape. Madurai and its surrounding districts form part of southern Tamil Nadu, where the BJP sees potential to grow, especially in constituencies where the AIADMK has weakened and local discontent with the DMK government is rising. The BJP leadership is hoping that a sustained southern push will allow it to consolidate the Hindu vote in southern Tamil Nadu, a region where it has pockets of influence but little statewide traction. Mr Shah's meetings will review booth-level preparedness, identify weak areas from the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, and push for early candidate identification to give the party a longer runway for its 2026 campaign. Party insiders say the Tirunelveli event is designed to energise cadres, particularly in districts where leaders have been pressing for greater organisational backing from Delhi. "There are around 8,000 booths here. In some constituencies, the BJP is as strong as the AIADMK. The Home Minister's visit is aimed at consolidating that base and sending a message of support from the top," a BJP leader said.
NDTV
29 minutes ago
- NDTV
"India Doesn't Take Any Position On Matters Of Faith, Religion": Minister On Dalai Lama's Succession
New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said it has seen a statement issued by the 14th Dalai Lama in July about the institution of the Dalai Lama, and underlined that it "does not take any position" on matters concerning beliefs and practices of faith and religion. Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh said this in a written response to queries in the Rajya Sabha. The MEA was asked whether it is a fact that the government has "openly backed Dalai Lama's right to decide on his own succession". "Government has seen a statement regarding the institution of Dalai Lama issued by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama on 02 July 2025. Government of India does not take any position on matters concerning beliefs and practices of faith and religion," the MoS said. "Government has always upheld freedom of religion for all in India and will continue to do so. Government's position has also been conveyed to the Chinese side," he said. In July, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) head Penpa Tsering countered the Chinese government's claim to the next Dalai Lama and said they should first look for the reincarnations of its own leadership. "The Chinese government also says they will look for the Dalai Lama's reincarnation within the borders of China. His Holiness is going to be reborn; he will decide where he wants to be reborn. How can the Chinese government dictate a lama, a spiritual being, where he or she should be reborn," Tsering had told PTI ahead of the 90th birthday celebration of the 14th Dalai Lama.
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Monsoon Session ends in uproar as Speaker Om Birla disapproves Opposition sloganeering
New Delhi: As the Lok Sabha adjourned sine die on Thursday at the end of the monsoon session which saw continuous Opposition protest over the SIR issue , Speaker Om Birla disapproved the protesting members indulging in sloganeering and holding up placards. He asked the parliamentarians to introspect whether such conduct was expected from the elected representatives of people who are expected to legislate and debate issues. Demonstrative of the government-Opposition stand-off , Opposition representatives didn't join the traditional session-end tea at the Speaker's chamber where the PM and other representatives were present.
