Central Government

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to move the Bill to amend the Factoring Regulation Act, 2011, in the lower House for consideration and passage. The bill is to provide for instruction and research in food technology, entrepreneurship and management and for the advancement of learning and dissemination of knowledge in such branches.

Informing the leaders that extensive arrangements have been made for safety of the members, officials and the media, as per the Covid-19 protocols for the session, Birla further assured that they will be given adequate opportunities for discussion on issues of public interest and appealed to them to cooperate with the Chair in smooth conduct of the House.

The government has proposed to bring 29 Bills, including six on Ordinances which were passed after the Budget Session, and two legislations related to finance during this session, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi informed during an all-party meeting held on Sunday. This session will see the newly inducted ministers in action. Prime Minister has directed them to spend more time in the House.

Launched on September 15, 2014, the National Ayush Mission is being implemented by the Ayush Ministry with the objectives of providing cost-effective Ayush (ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Sowa-Rigpa and homoeopathy) services, with universal access through upgrading Ayush hospitals and dispensaries, co-location of Ayush facilities at primary and community health centres.

Modi's visit to Varanasi is significant considering the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh next year. This visit looks set to kick-off the BJP's assembly election campaign as the Prime Minister will address a public meeting after the inauguration of the projects. This will be Modi's first trip to his constituency this year. The Prime Minister will inaugurate various public projects and works.

The bills include changes in the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) � replacing the Ordinance enabling prepackaged resolution schemes for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and allowing corporate debtors to propose a resolution plan for the stressed company. Besides, the Centre will also introduce the Deposit Insurance Bill, increase insurance cover to Rs 5 lakh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar are members of the CCS. The Prime Minister and Home Minister are members of the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet. The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs is headed by the Prime Minister.

Seating arrangements for the Members of Parliament have also been made in the same chamber, unlike during the previous two sessions when a group of MPs were sitting in Lok Sabha and the others in Rajya Sabha. In the previous two sessions, the Rajya Sabha functioned between 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Lok Sabha from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. and the parliamentarians used to sit in both the chambers.

A bench of Justices U.U. Lalit and Ajay Rastogi was hearing a writ petition filed by two journalists, one each from Manipur and Chhattisgarh. It had issued notice to the Attorney General on the petition on April 30. AG K.K. Venugopal and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, urged the top court to grant two weeks to file their responses. The bench granted them the time and adjourned the matter for further hearing on July 27.

Addressing the Health Ministry press briefing, NITI Aayog's Member, Health, V.K. Paul said: "We cannot lower our guard. Need to continue following Covid appropriate behaviour as it is not the end of the pandemic. Visuals of crowds not maintaining social distancing at tourist places are a serious cause of concern."