Budget Session of the Indian Parliament Scheduled to be held from Feb. 23 to May 13, 2016

The Budget Session of the Indian Parliament will be held from Feb. 23 to May 13, 2016 with 31 sittings in all.

12 bills to be considered and passed

* 4 bills, including Finance Bill, to be introduced, considered and passed


* 2 new bills to be introduced

* 2 to legislations to be withdrawn

* To be introduced & considered: Enemy Property, Finance Bill 2016, Election Laws Amendment, Regional Centre for Biotechnology

* The contentious Land Bill is listed for withdrawal

A Few key bills among the 60 pending

* GST Bill: The Bill seeks to amend the Constitution to introduce the goods and services tax (GST). Pending in RS

* Benami Transactions or the Black Money Bill: Amendment in the definition of benami transactions, establishing the adjudicating authorities and specifying penalty for entering into benami transactions. Introduced in LS, pending

* Lokpal & Lokayuktas Bill: The Bill amends this provision to state the Leader of the single largest Opposition party in the House would be part of the Selection Committee, in the absence of a recognised LoP in the Lok Sabha.
Introduced in Lok Sabha, pending

* Whistleblowers Protection Bill, 2015 : The Bill prohibits reporting of a corruption related disclosure if it falls under economic, scientific interests and the security of India; Cabinet proceedings, intellectual property; etc.
Pending in Rajya Sabha

* Prevention of Corruption Bill 2013 : The Bill makes the giving of a bribe an offence, enlarges the defi nition of taking a bribe and covers commercial organisations. Introduced in LS

* Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2013: The Bill makes it compulsory for a developer to keep 50% of funds for project in an escrow account. Introduced in LS, pending

* Judges Salaries Bill 2015: The bill seeks to ensure uniformity in pensions and other conditions of service of Supreme Court and High Court judges. Pending in RS

* Waqf Properties Bill, 2014: The Bill provides for the eviction of unauthorised occupants from waqf properties. Introduced in LS, pending

* Right of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014: Instead of seven disabilities specified in the Act, this Bill covers 19 conditions. Introduced in LS, pending

* Mental Health Care Bill, 2013: The new Bill was introduced as the existing Act does not adequately protect the rights of persons with mental illness nor promote their access to mental health care. Introduced in RS,pending

The agenda for the NDA Government, caught in the midst of various political storms such as Rohith Vemula’s suicide and the crisis at Jawaharlal Nehru University, would be to draw consensus among all MPs for 12 essential Bills.

Most of them — listed below — have already been passed in the Lok Sabha and are pending in the Rajya Sabha

Bills listed for Consideration and Passing
GST Bill	Gives concurrent taxation powers to the centre and states to levy a Goods and Services Tax, and creates a Goods and Services Tax Council.
Real Estate Bill	Regulates transactions between buyers and promoters of real estate projects and sets up state level Regulatory Authorities to monitor it
Lokpal Bill	Modifies the composition of the Selection Committee to include the leader of the single largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha, and the manner of declaration of assets of public servants.
Anti-Hijacking Bill	Replaces the Anti-Hijacking Act, 1982. Defines hijacking and awards death penalty for hijacking in certain cases, such as death of hostage or security personnel.
Whistle Blowers Protection (Amendment) Bill	Prohibits reporting of corruption related complaints that fall under 10 specified categories such as economic and scientific interests, cabinet proceedings and those within the ambit of the Official Secrets Act.
High Court & Supreme Court Judges Bill	Seeks to ensure uniformity in pensions and other conditions of service of Supreme Court and High Court judges.
Repealing and Amending Bill	Repeals 295 Acts which have ceased to be in force, and amends two Acts.
Appropriation Acts (Repeal) Bill	Seeks to repeal 758 Appropriation Acts.
Industries Amendment Bill	Excludes production of alcohol for potable purposes from the ambit of the Act.
Bureau of Indian Standards Bill	Replaces the Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986. Seeks to establish BIS as the national standards body and mandatory standardisation of products.
National Waterways Bill, 2015	Replaces the five existing national waterways laws. Identifies additional 101 waterways as national waterways.
Carriage by Air (Amendment) Bill	Allows the central government to revise liability limits of air carriers for compensation related to death, injury, and loss of baggage.

Apart from this, four other Bills have also been listed for introduction, consideration and passing; two for introduction and two for withdrawal