Explained: 10 crucial bills passed during the Parliament's Winter Session
On 22nd December 2021, both the houses of the Indian Parliament were adjourned (the date of resumption wasn’t mentioned) after a successful winter session. In the session, 12 new bills had been introduced while 10 were passed, including two that were actually presented in the preceding session. Here’s a closer look at the 10 bills passed during Winter Session of 2021.
Farm Laws Repeal Bill 2021
On November 2019, Indian farmers had protested against three farm laws, namely Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act (2020), Farmers’ Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act (2020), and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act 2020. Exactly two years later, on 29th November 2021, these farm laws were revoked as the Parliament passed the Farm Laws Repeal Bill 2021. According to this Act, the government will no longer be able to control the production, supply and distribution of essential food commodities and farmers will have complete authority on the entire process.
Assisted Reproductive Technology Regulation Bill 2020
This objective of this bill was to set up a National Assisted Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Board and ensuring that all Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) clinics and banks are registered under the National Registry of Banks and Clinics of India. The objective was to regulate and monitor the organisation to prevent unlawful practices.
Election Laws Amendment Bill 2021
This bill permits electoral registration officers to ask people for their unique Aadhar number in order to verify their identity, when they get registered as voters in India. It’s a way to link a person’s Voter and Aadhar IDs.
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Amendment Bill 2021
This Bill is yet to receive the presidential approval and is all about rectifying the previous discrepancies in the NDPS Act of 2014. This bill will make medical access to narcotic drugs across India difficult. The states will also be barred from transporting and licensing essential narcotic drugs.
Delhi Special Police Establishment Amendment Bill 2021
The bill was converted into an Act on 21st December after the President’s approval. It aims to constitute a Delhi Special Police Establishment for investigation of certain special offences across NCR, as and when notified without the interference of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Central Vigilance Commission Amendment Bill 2021
This bill too received Presidential assent on 21st December and is now officially an Act. It aims to allow the Central Vigilance Commission to conduct inquiries into offences that fall under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
High Court and Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Services) Amendment Bill 2021
This bill will ensure that a high court or Supreme court retired judge is entitled to receive additional or family pension as soon as he reaches the age when his individual pension lapses. The minimum specified age bracket for this begins at 80 and continues till 100 years. While 80- to 85-year-olds will receive a 20% increment, 100-year-olds and above will receive 100% increment, meaning an increase of 20% per age bracket.
Surrogacy Regulation Bill 2019
This bill will ensure that unmonitored IVF centres across India can no longer carry out unregulated surrogacy (through sex determination of the foetus and prostitution) and in turn will curb the practice of exploitation of women.
Dam Safety Bill 2021
This bill was passed to ensure that regular and adequate surveillance, inspection, supervision and maintenance of all the large dams across the country are carried out in order to prevent disasters arising from dam failures.
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Amendment Bill 2021
The NIPER Bill 2021 received President’s approval on 18th December and is now officially an Act. It has approved six additional institutes across the country (to the already existing 23 institutes) as government registered research institutes for pharmaceutical studies and also aims to set up an advisory council for them. This advisory council will be the central body to oversee all the research activities carried out in the institutes so as to ensure coordinated development and maintenance of standards of pharmaceutical education and research.