Parliament Budget Session 2026 Highlights: Rajya Sabha passes Central Armed Police Forces Bill amid Opposition walkout

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Both Houses of Parliament were adjourned on Wednesday and will reconvene on Thursday at 11 am.

The Budget Session of Parliament is unlikely to be adjourned sine die and is expected to reconvene in the third week of April, according to sources. The next phase may take up key legislative business, including proposed amendments to the Nari Shakti Vandan Act and the introduction of the Delimitation Commission Bill. The exact dates for reconvening are likely to be announced at the time of adjournment, sources said.

(ANI)

Replying to the debate, Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai said the Central Armed Police Forces Bill, 2026, was introduced to strengthen the country’s security framework.

He said the legislation seeks to address inconsistencies in service rules, cadre management and appointments, aiming to improve efficiency and morale within the forces. Over time, the CAPFs’ role has expanded, leading to a mix of rules and administrative practices that created confusion and implementation challenges.

Rai added that the bill proposes an umbrella framework to resolve these issues and streamline the system for better coordination and execution.

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026, by voice vote as the Opposition staged a walkout.

The legislation aims to establish a unified legal framework for personnel across the Central Armed Police Forces, replacing the existing system of separate service rules governing the five CAPFs.

The Centre has completed the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) across eight coastal states in two phases, aimed at reducing cyclone vulnerability and strengthening disaster-resilient infrastructure while preserving coastal ecosystems. The first phase, approved in 2011 for Andhra Pradesh and Odisha, was completed in December 2018, while the second phase, cleared in 2015 for Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and West Bengal, concluded in March 2023.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, MoS Home Nityanand Rai said the project included key components such as early warning dissemination systems, multi-purpose cyclone shelters, evacuation roads and bridges, saline embankments and underground cabling, along with capacity building and technical assistance. The total expenditure stood at Rs 2,524.84 crore for Phase I and Rs 1,806.84 crore for Phase II, with dedicated monitoring units set up at both central and state levels to ensure effective implementation and coordination.

(ANI)

CPM MP John Brittas on Wednesday alleged that the government is treating even basic information related to the regulation of NGOs under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) as “secret”, raising concerns over transparency and parliamentary accountability.

In a post on X, Brittas said his repeated attempts over the past two years to obtain data on cancellations, suspensions and non-renewals of FCRA licences have gone unanswered. He said that since 2024, he has submitted eight rounds of questions in the Rajya Sabha on issues including FCRA actions, fresh registrations and access to the FCRA dashboard, but none received a response, with queries being disallowed under Rule 47(2)(XXII) on the grounds that the information sought was “secret in nature.”

YSR Congress Party chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday sharply criticised the passage of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha, calling Amaravati a “capital of corruption” and accusing N Chandrababu Naidu of pursuing an “impractical” and costly capital model. Speaking in Tadepalli, he questioned the feasibility of the project, asking how the state would mobilise an estimated Rs 2 lakh crore and how long construction would take, while alleging irregularities in land acquisition, tendering and contractor payments.

He said the YSRCP was not opposed to Amaravati as a region but to what he described as excessive financial burden and uneven development. Defending his party’s three-capital proposal, he said Visakhapatnam was chosen as the executive capital due to existing infrastructure, with Amaravati as the legislative capital and Kurnool as the judicial capital to ensure regional balance. Reddy also alleged inflated project costs and warned that a singular focus on Amaravati could push the state into a debt trap while sidelining welfare spending.

(Amit Bhardwaj)

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed a bill to recognise Amaravati as the sole and permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh, with support from the Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Congress and Telugu Desam Party.

The Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was passed by a voice vote and is aimed at preventing any future move to alter Amaravati’s status as the state’s only capital.

Opening the debate, Congress MP Manickam Tagore said his party fully supports the legislation but reiterated the demand for special category status for Andhra Pradesh, the successor state after the creation of Telangana.

“Let Amaravati develop like Bengaluru, Chennai or Hyderabad. Let Visakhapatnam, Tirupati and Kurnool also grow. We support Amaravati as the permanent capital of Andhra Pradesh,” he said.

The Congress on Wednesday said it has no objection to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, even as it highlighted pending commitments linked to Telangana from the original 2014 legislation.

In a statement on X, the party said the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act, 2014 had included several assurances to address development, institutional and resource concerns arising after bifurcation. It noted that these promises remain central to ongoing policy and parliamentary discussions about their implementation, status and adequacy.

It also urged people of Andhra Pradesh not to view the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana as a “black day”, but rather as a step towards the development of both states.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday said that while several bills were introduced in Parliament, the Andhra Pradesh-related legislation was taken up on priority due to its urgency. He said the amendment was necessary to give “proper shape” to the capital in Amaravati, and required parliamentary approval to move forward.

Addressing criticism from the Opposition, Rijiju said people should not focus solely on the allegations being made, but instead assess the situation based on facts. “The government works according to rules and introduces laws based on necessity. It does not break the system or violate rules,” he said.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal introduced the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha. The legislation seeks to amend certain laws to decriminalise minor offences and rationalise penalties, aiming to promote trust-based governance.

The bill is intended to enhance ease of living and ease of doing business in India, streamlining compliance and reducing unnecessary legal burdens on citizens and enterprises.

BJP MP CM Ramesh questioned the stand of the YSR Congress Party on the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha. He accused the party of adopting a contradictory position on the issue of Amaravati as the state capital.

The remarks came amid an ongoing debate on the bill, with sharp exchanges between members as parties continue to stake their positions on the proposed legislation.

Kiren Rijiju said the proposed amendments seek to ensure proper utilisation of foreign contributions, enhance transparency, and prevent misuse of funds. He accused opposition parties of politicising the issue ahead of elections and urged them not to mislead the public.

Earlier, BJP MP Gulam Ali Khatana also criticised the Opposition, alleging minorities were being treated as a vote bank, while asserting that those complying with the law have full freedom.

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday accused the Congress and Communist parties of misleading people in Kerala over the FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026. Amid protests by Opposition MPs, the Lok Sabha was adjourned till noon.

Rijiju asserted that the bill is not against any religion or organisation and is aimed at regulating foreign funding in the national interest. He said Kerala MPs were under “misunderstanding” and maintained that the government had already indicated the bill would not be taken up for consideration today.

The BJP has extended its support to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha. BJP MP CM Suresh rose in the House to back the proposal, advocating for Amaravati to be recognised as the capital of Andhra Pradesh.

The development reflects growing support for the bill across party lines, as members continue to participate in the ongoing discussion on its provisions and implications.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore rose in the Lok Sabha to support the Amaravati Bill, signalling the party’s backing for the proposal. The endorsement comes amid broader discussions on the bill’s provisions and its significance for Andhra Pradesh.

With bipartisan support emerging, the debate is expected to see participation from multiple parties during the scheduled discussion.

Minister of State for Home Affairs Nityanand Rai has introduced the Amaravati Bill in the Lok Sabha, with a one-hour discussion scheduled on the legislation. The bill proposes formal recognition of Amaravati as the capital of Andhra Pradesh following its passage.

The development marks a key moment in the House’s proceedings, with members expected to deliberate on the implications of the proposed law.