The Rajya Sabha has also passed the constitutional amendment bill that seeks reservation of up to 10 percent in government jobs and across educational institutions for economically backward citizens of India. This was a day after the Lok Sabha passed it almost unanimously.
The Constitution (124th Amendment) Bill 2019 was approved by the Union Cabinet on Monday, passed in the Lok Sabha on the last day of the Winter Session. The bill was then tabled in the Rajya Sabha today where it was debated for over 10 hours.
-
Indian Markets Turning Corner After Two Tough Years, Says Sandeep Tandon -
NDTV Profit Ignite 2026: Experts See Opportunity In Equities, Stay Bullish For Long-Term -
Buy Right, Sit Tight Does Not Work for Individual Stocks, Says Dinshaw Irani -
'Worst Is Behind': Quant MF Sees Market Bottom, Flags 'Extreme Euphoria' In Midcaps -
India's Mutual Fund Industry Could Become A $1 Trillion Opportunity, Say Fund Managers -
'Foreign Investors Are Baraatis': Raamdeo Agrawal's Take On LTCG Tax -
Stay Invested Through Market Cycles: Raamdeo Agrawal at NDTV Profit Ignite -
Ramesh Damani Remains Bullish On India For Next 20-30 Years, Sees Bargains Amid Market Weakness -
CAS Came After A Long Consultation Process: SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey AT NDTV PROFIT IGNITE -
Aim To Cut FPI Onboarding Time From Mth To Five Days: SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey AT NDTV PROFI
The House voted in favour of the bill with a majority of 165. There were seven who voted against it. The bill now only requires Presidential consent.
Also Read | Layoffs Are Rising In Tech, But These Skills Are Helping People Unlock Better Pay
During the day, the bill was strongly protested by Congress and the opposition parties. The protesting parliamentarians demanded sending the bill to a select committee for further scrutiny.
The Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Aam Aadmi Party were in the well of the house and raised slogans against the government before the house was adjourned. Congress, while saying it supports the bill, said that it's not in favour of the “hasty” manner in which it was introduced by the government.
Social Welfare and Empowerment Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot disagreed. This decision has not been taken in haste, he said. “It is brought with good intention keeping in view the welfare of the poor in general category people.”
The minister added the Constitution didn't allow reservation on economic basis and many among the poor of general category missed out on opportunities.
According to the bill, “at present, the economically weaker sections of citizens have largely remained excluded from attending the higher educational institutions and public employment on account of their financial incapacity to compete with the persons who are economically more privileged.”
The Bill seeks to amend article 15 of the Constitution, by adding a clause which allows states to make “special provision for the advancement of any economically weaker sections of citizens”.
These “special provisions” would relate to "their admission to educational institutions, including private educational institutions, whether aided or unaided by the state, other than the minority educational institutions.”
It also makes it clear that reservation would be "in addition to the existing reservations and subject to a maximum of 10 percent of the total seats in each category.”
A constitutional amendment bill requires at least half of the members to be present in the House and two-third of them should support it.
Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
