Parliamentary Panels Defer Reports on Anti-Graft and Education Bills Amid Delimitation Outreach
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity
Why in news
Two parliamentary committees have postponed adopting reports on key bills—an anti-graft constitutional amendment and the higher education regulator bill. This is seen as part of the government's strategy to avoid confrontation while seeking opposition support for the politically sensitive delimitation bill.
Background
The government is pushing for a constitutional amendment to increase the strength of Lok Sabha and state assemblies, coupled with delimitation of constituencies. Opposition parties like DMK and NCP-SP are being wooed for support. Meanwhile, the anti-graft bill (automatic removal of PM/CMs/ministers if arrested for 30 days) and the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill (replacing multiple higher education regulators with one umbrella body) have drawn widespread protest from non-NDA parties.
Key facts
A joint parliamentary committee (JPC) on the anti-graft bill, headed by BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi, deferred adoption of its report after members had already adopted two of five recommendations by majority vote.
Another JPC, headed by BJP MP Daggubati Purandeswari, scrutinising the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, called off a meeting scheduled for Monday to approve its report; next date not fixed.
Both bills may not be tabled in the current parliamentary session.
The deferrals are linked to the government's outreach to opposition parties (e.g., DMK, NCP-SP) for support on the delimitation bill, which aims to raise the strength of Lok Sabha and assemblies.
Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticized the government, calling the anti-graft bill a case of 'constitutional over-reach' and the education bill a 'clear case of constitutional over-reach'.
The anti-graft bill proposes automatic removal of PM, CMs, and ministers if they are under arrest for 30 continuous days on serious charges.
The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill seeks to replace multiple higher education regulators with a single umbrella body.
Prelims pointers
- Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC)
- Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill
- Anti-graft bill: automatic removal of PM/CM/ministers on arrest for 30 days
- Delimitation of constituencies
- Lok Sabha strength increase proposal
- BJP MPs: Aparajita Sarangi, Daggubati Purandeswari
- Congress leader Jairam Ramesh
- Monsoon session of Parliament
Mains angles
- GS2: Parliament and State Legislatures – functioning, committees, and legislative process
- GS2: Government policies and interventions – education regulation and anti-corruption measures
- GS2: Centre-State relations – delimitation and representation
- GS2: Constitutional amendments – process and political implications