Govt tables OBC bill in House, Oppn to back it

The Union government on Monday introduced in the Lok Sabha a constitutional amendment that aims to restore the power of states to identify backward castes, with the Opposition saying it will “cooperate” with the Narendra Modi government to clear the passage of the crucial bill in Parliament amid frequent protests and disruptions over the demand to discuss the Pegasus snooping row and farmers’ protest against the farm laws.

Union social justice and empowerment minister Virendra Kumar introduced the Constitution (127th Amendment) Bill, 2021, in the Lower House. In the statement of objects and reasons, Kumar said in order to ade

The defence ministry on Monday told the Rajya Sabha that it has had no dealings with Israeli cybersecurity firm NSO Group, which is at the centre of a global controversy over the misuse of its Pegasus spyware to hack phones of journalists, activists and politicians. In response to a question

quately clarify that the states and Union territories are empowered to prepare and maintain their own list of SEBCS (Socially and Educationally Backward Classes) and with a view to maintain the federal structure of this country, on the subject in the Upper House, minister of state for defence Ajay Bhatt said, “Ministry of defence has not had any transaction with NSO Group technologies.”

The ministry’s one-line response came at a time when the Opposition has stalled Parliament over the Pegasus snooping row.

there is a need to amend Article 342A and make consequential amendments in articles 338B and 366 of the Constitution.

The 102nd Constitution Amendment Act of 2018 inserted