Winter Session, 2021 of Parliament 11 Bills Passed By Both Houses

The Winter Session, 2021 of Parliament which commenced on 29th November, 2021 was adjourned sine die on 22nd December 2021. The Session provided 18 sittings spread over a period of 24 days. During the Session, 13 Bills (12 Bills in Lok Sabha and 1 Bill in Rajya Sabha) were introduced. 11 Bills were passed by both the Houses of Parliament.

1.      The Farm Laws Repeal Bill, 2021

In view of protests by a group of farmers and in order to take everyone together on the path of inclusive growth and development in the 75th year of India's Independence, the bill was introduced and passed to repeal the three farm laws namely, Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020, the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 passed by Parliament in September, 2020 with the objective of overall development of farmers.

2.      The Dam Safety Bill, 2021

The bill provides for surveillance, inspection, operation and maintenance of the specified dam for prevention of dam failure related disasters and to provide for institutional mechanism to ensure their safe functioning and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

3.      The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulations) Bill, 2021

The bill provides for establishment of National Board, State Boards and the National Registry for the regulation and supervision of assisted reproductive technology clinics and assisted reproductive technology banks, prevention of misuse, safe and ethical practice of assisted reproductive technology services and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

4.      The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2021

The bill provides for regulation of surrogacy services in the country, to prohibit the potential exploitation of surrogate mothers and to protect the rights of children born through surrogacy.

5.      The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2021

The bill brings clarity that the institutes established as well as any other similar institute to be established under the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Act shall be institutes of national importance and to establish a central body, to be called the Council, to ensure coordinated development of pharmaceutical education and research and maintenance of standards, etc. and also to rationalise the Board of Governors of each such institute and to widen the scope and number of courses run by such institutes.

6.      The High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Amendment Bill, 2021

The bill provides benefit of additional quantum of pension to a retired Judge from the first day of the month in which he completes the age specified in the first column of the scale and not from the first day of his entering the age specified therein as so interpreted by the High Courts.

7.      The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2021

The bill intends to rectify the anomaly in section 27A of the Act by substituting clause (viii b) in place of clause (viii a) in section 27A with a view to have correct interpretation and implementation of the NDPS Act.

8.      The Delhi Special Police Establishment (Amendment) Bill, 2021

The bill provides for extension of tenure of Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation by up to one year at a time in public interest, till the completion of five years in total including the period mentioned in the initial appointment.

9.      The Central Vigilance Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2021

The bill provides for extension of tenure of Director of the Directorate of Enforcement by up to one year at a time in public interest, till the completion of five years in total including the period mentioned in the initial appointment.

10.  The Election Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021

The bill provides linking of electoral roll data with the Aadhaar ecosystem to curb the menace of multiple enrolment of the same person in different places.

11.  Appropriation Bill relating to the Supplementary Demands for Grants for the year 2021- 22

The Bill was passed by Lok Sabha, transmitted to Rajya Sabha and will be deemed to have been passed by both Houses after the expiry of 14 days under Article 109(5).

Meanwhile, two short duration discussions under Rule 193 were held in Lok Sabha on the COVID-19 pandemic and various aspects related to it, and Climate Change. In the Rajya Sabha one discussion on the situation arising out of cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19 virus in the country was held. The productivity of Lok Sabha was approximately 82% and that of Rajya Sabha was approximately 48 %.

Source : Press Information Bureau