Latest news with #Amendment)Bill
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Karnataka hikes housing scheme quota for minorities from 10% to 15%
The Karnataka Cabinet on Thursday (June 19, 2025) approved a proposal to increase the reservation from 10% to 15% for minorities under various State government housing schemes. Briefing the Cabinet decisions after the meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H.K. Patil said the move was based on the disproportionately high number of houseless individuals among minority communities in both urban and rural areas. Muslims form the bulk of the minority population in Karnataka. Norm in Centre The Law Minister pointed out that the Centre had issued guidelines and it had already provides 15% allocation for minorities, and Karnataka was following it. Minority communities have long been requesting the hike in quota in the housing schemes, he added. The decision will apply to all housing schemes implemented by different departments, including Housing and Urban Development, across the State. While the opposition BJP criticised it as 'appeasement politics', Mr. Patil said the decision showed the government's commitment to equitable housing. ''Housing for All' is the key slogan of the Congress government, and we are committed to ensuring that every citizen has access to a home,' he said. Many houseless individuals belong to downtrodden communities and minorities, and the decision to increase the quota reflects this ground reality, he said. 'The government is firm in its stand that all houseless individuals, regardless of their community, should be provided with housing,' Mr. Patil said. Defending the decision, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said, 'There is a large urban population, and many minorities and poor people are part of it.' In contracts Thursday's decision was followed by the government's proposal to extend quota benefits for Muslims in contract allocations, indicating a bigger push for minorities in welfare initiatives. The State legislature passed the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aimed to provide a 4% quota for Muslims in government contracts of under ₹2 crore. The BJP legislators was strongly opposed the Bill. After returning it twice, the Governor has forwarded the Bill for President's assent.
Time of India
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
India prepares for 'one nation, one election' rollout by 2034: Assemblies to have shorter terms post-2029
The Modi government is advancing its plan for implementing simultaneous national and state elections by 2034, with all state assemblies elected after 2029 expected to serve shortened terms to align with the general elections, according to a Times of India report. The groundwork is being laid through the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seeks to enable the 'One Nation, One Election' system, the report added. According to PP Choudhary, chairman of the joint parliamentary committee (JPC) overseeing the bill, state assemblies elected after 2029 — such as Uttar Pradesh's in 2032 — may serve shorter terms, potentially as brief as two years, to ensure synchronisation with the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for 2034. The bill empowers the President to issue a notification after the first sitting of the Lok Sabha following the 2029 general elections, marking the starting point for the new synchronized electoral cycle. Assemblies elected after this notification will have terms ending concurrently with the Lok Sabha's term. If either the Lok Sabha or a state assembly is dissolved early, fresh elections will be held only for the remainder of the five-year term, preserving alignment. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Vietnam (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Undo In states where elections are due before the 2034 target, polls will still be conducted, but only for the remaining duration needed to bring those assemblies in sync with the national election timeline. An exception clause exists: if the Election Commission determines that a simultaneous election isn't feasible in a particular state, it can recommend to the President that polls be held separately. Choudhary, a BJP MP from Pali, Rajasthan, also noted that the JPC is likely to extend its term, as there is consensus among members to visit more states and Union Territories before finalising recommendations. So far, visits have been conducted in Maharashtra and Uttarakhand to gather public and stakeholder feedback. Live Events Both the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill were introduced in Parliament in December 2024 and referred to the JPC for detailed scrutiny. The goal is to streamline the electoral process, reduce logistical burdens, and ensure more consistent governance cycles nationwide.
Business Recorder
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
NA panel takes note of leakage of Advanced Level exam papers
ISLAMABAD: The parliamentary panel has taken note of recent reports of the leakage of Advanced Level examination papers conducted by Cambridge University in Pakistan, which have raised serious concerns among students and public in general. 'This incident has raised questions on the integrity of the examination process of Cambridge University in Pakistan,' the parliamentary panel remarked. The meeting of National Assembly Standing Committee on Federal Education, Professional Training, National Heritage and Culture was held on Friday under the chairmanship of Dr Azim Uddin Zahid Lakhvi at Project Coordination Unit (PCU), Islamabad. The committee urged the Cambridge University and relevant authorities to address these critical concerns promptly. In addition, a sub-committee has been formed to discuss the matter and draw recommendations and submit report in 30 days. The sub-committee will discuss to clarify under whose authority and legal framework Cambridge University operates in Pakistan. The committee demanded for transparency regarding the regulatory oversight governing these examinations to ensure accountability. Additionally, Cambridge University must disclose what remedial measures it has taken in the past to address similar leaks and whether those measures were effective in preventing future breaches. Most urgently, steps must be taken to protect affected students from bearing the consequences of this negligence. Possible solutions include re-conducting compromised papers under enhanced security, adjusting grading methodologies to account for the irregularity, and offering supplementary examination opportunities. Cambridge University must also provide a clear and binding commitment to strengthen examination security, investigate the leak thoroughly, and implement stringent measures to prevent recurrence. This incident highlights the need to strengthen Pakistan's own examination boards. The government and educational authorities should invest in modernizing assessment systems, pursue international accreditation for local boards, and establish robust mechanisms to restore public trust and reduce dependency on foreign examination systems. The committee, unanimously, passed, 'The Right to free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The bill aims to enhance the educational experience by providing students not only access to free education but also the free necessary tools and skills for digital literacy, ensuring that all children have the opportunity to thrive in an increasingly digital world. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Karnataka: Rules to tax unauthorised properties in rural areas soon
BENGALURU : Rural development and panchayat raj minister Priyank Kharge Thursday said guidelines to bring all unauthorised properties in rural areas under the purview of local bodies like gram panchayats for the purpose of collecting property tax will be ready by mid-July. The move is part of measures to implement The Karnataka Gram Swaraj and Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which was passed in March. "We are drawing up guidelines to bring illegal layouts in rural areas into the tax net," said Priyank. "By rolling out the initiative, we can bring around 95 lakh properties under the purview of property tax." While addressing reporters in Bengaluru, Priyank highlighted achievements of the RDPR department over the past two years. He said the department collected over Rs 1,273 crore in revenue this year and it will increase once unauthorised properties start paying tax. He said the department has issued e-khatas to over 50 lakh properties. He said the department has achieved several new initiatives, such as Arivu Kendras (digital libraries), creches, and e-khatas for rural properties, among others. Hitting back at criticism from BJP, which accused him of "doing nothing" for RDPR in the state, he said the central govt had awarded Karnataka RDPR the No. 1 position for decentralisation of power in the state. "This was given by Prime Minister Modi, but BJP still accuses me of not working," Priyank said. He said that while the Centre has ignored the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) scheme, the state provided employment for over 55 lakh people under the scheme in the past two years. Priyank said Karnataka has continued to implement the Jal Jeevan mission to provide safe drinking water in rural areas and that the state and Centre should bear project expenses equally. "The Centre's share is over Rs 3,400 crore but it has released only Rs 515 crore. The Union minister informed us that it would allocate the pending amount in the next budget and requested the state to arrange the funds for the scheme," he said. He said chief minister Siddaramaiah released funds to balance the Union govt's share, and the implementation of the scheme continues without any hindrance. "But BJP is falsely alleging that the state govt is not utilising funds released by the centre for the Jal Jeevan mission," he said.
New Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Karnataka Governor reserves temple bill for Presidential assent
BENGALURU: Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has reserved the Karnataka Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments (Amendment) Bill, one which aims to benefit priests serving in low income temples, for the assent of the President. The bill was passed by the Karnataka Assemby on March 6, 2024 and submitted to the Governor afresh on May 16, 2025. It aims to enhance the common pool of funds from the high income generating temples and improve the lives of priests serving in low income temples, a source in the Religious Endowment Department said. Karnataka Religious Endowment Minister Ramalinga Reddy had earlier said that there are 3,000 C-Grade temples in the state which have less than Rs five lakh income from where 'Dharmika Parishad' gets no money. Dharmika Parishad is a committee to improve the temple management for the benefit of pilgrims.
