Polity Current Affairs

Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, 2023, was passed by Parliament on September 21, 2023.

1. The bill aims to reserve one-third of the total number of seats for women in the following legislative bodies:
   • Lok Sabha (the lower house of India’s parliament)
   • State Legislative Assemblies
   • Delhi Assembly
2. The bill, also known as the Women’s Reservation Bill or Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, received approval from the Rajya Sabha (the upper house of parliament) through a division of votes. In this division, 214 members voted in favor of the bill, and none voted against it.
3. The Lok Sabha had previously given its approval to the bill.

Q.: Which legislative bodies are covered by the Women’s Reservation Bill?

a. Lok Sabha, State Legislative Councils, and Municipal Corporations
b. Rajya Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and Panchayati Raj Institutions
c. Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and Delhi Assembly
d. Gram Panchayats, Zila Parishads, and Municipalities

Ans : c. Lok Sabha, State Legislative Assemblies, and Delhi Assembly

The Lok Sabha passed the Women’s Reservation Bill on September 20, 2023. The bill was introduced on the first day of proceedings in the new Parliament Building.

1. The bill aims to provide 33% reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies.
2. The bill received strong support with 454 votes in favor and only 2 against it.
3. The implementation of the reservation is scheduled for 2029, following the delimitation of constituencies, which will be conducted after the next census.
4. The bill is officially named the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Eighth Amendment) Bill, also known as the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.
5. The next step is for the bill to be discussed and voted on in the Rajya Sabha.

Q.: What is the official name of the Women’s Reservation Bill?

a) Women’s Empowerment Bill
b) Gender Equality Bill
c) Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam
d) Reservation for Women Act

Ans : c) Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam

The old Parliament building in New Delhi was officially renamed as “Samvidhan Sadan” on September 19, 2023. This decision to rename the building was proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has received approval from both the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Chairman. In contrast, the new Parliament building has been designated as the “Parliament House of India.”

The old Parliament building, now known as Samvidhan Sadan, was originally designed by British architects Sir Edwin Lutyens and Herbert Baker and was constructed between 1921 and 1927. Throughout its history, this iconic structure has borne witness to pivotal moments in Indian history, including the deliberations on the formation of the Constitution, the announcement of Mahatma Gandhi’s passing, and the surrender of Pakistani forces in Bangladesh.

The renaming of the old Parliament building symbolizes its enduring significance as the site where India’s constitutional framework was debated and crafted. It serves as a timeless source of inspiration for future generations, retaining its legacy as Samvidhan Sadan.

Q.: The old Parliament building in New Delhi officially renamed as ………………………………………?

A) Rajya Sabha Bhavan
B) Lok Sabha Sadan
C) Samvidhan Sadan
D) Old Sansad Sadan

Answer: C) Samvidhan Sadan

The government has introduced the Women’s Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha on 19 September 2023 to provide one-third reservation for women in the Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, and the Delhi Assembly.

1. Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the 128th Amendment Bill, 2023, which aims to provide 33 percent reservation to women in Parliament and state assemblies.
2. The goal is to increase the participation of women in policy-making at the state and national levels.
3. The Constitution (128 Amendment) Bill, 2023, is the first bill introduced in the new Parliament building during the special session.
4. The bill mandates women’s reservation for 15 years, extendable by Parliament, and includes a provision for SC and ST women within the reservation.
5. The current representation of women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies is significantly low, and this bill aims to address the gender disparity.

Question: What is the primary objective of the Women’s Reservation Bill introduced in the Lok Sabha?

A) To increase the number of seats in Parliament
B) To provide one-third reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies
C) To provide one-third reservation for women in government jobs
D) To provide one-third reservation for women in Panchayat

Answer: B) To provide one-third reservation for women in Parliament and state assemblies

Five-day Special Parliament Session to begin from 18th September 2023. An all-party meeting of floor leaders was held on 17 September in New Delhi ahead of a special session of parliament.

1. Government representatives in the meeting included Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Minister Piyush Goyal, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi.
2. Opposition party leaders present in the meeting included Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Farooq Abdullah, Derek O’Brien, Sanjay Singh, Ram Gopal Yadav, and Manoj Kumar Jha.
3. The session will begin in the existing parliament building and shift to a new building on 19 September 2023. Regular business will commence on Wednesday.
4. The government sought cooperation from parties to ensure the smooth functioning of the session.
5. Some opposition parties advocated for the passage of the Women Reservation Bill, which aims to reserve one-third of seats for women in Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies.
6. The special session will start with discussions on the Parliamentary Journey of 75 years, followed by a photo session and functions marking 75 years of independence.
7. Eight bills will be taken up during this special session, including bills related to the Chief Election Commissioner, The Advocates (Amendment) Bill, The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill, and The Post Office Bill.

Q.: When will the regular business of the special session of parliament in the new building commence?

a) 18 September 2023
b) 19 September 2023
c) 20 September 2023
d) 21 September 2023

Ans : 19 September 2023

Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar hoisted the National Flag at the top of Gaja Dwar of the New Parliament Building on 16 September 2023.

1. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and other dignitaries attended the event.
2. Discussion on the Parliamentary Journey of 75 years, starting from Samvidhan Sabha, will be held in Lok Sabha.
3. The government has listed bills for discussion in the upcoming Parliament Session:
   • Bill on the appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner and other election commissioners.
   • The Advocates (Amendment) Bill.
   • The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill.
   • The Post Office Bill.
4. The Advocates (Amendment) Bill and The Press and Registration of Periodicals Bill have been passed by Rajya Sabha and are pending in Lok Sabha.
5. The Post Office Bill and The Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Condition of Service, and Term of Office) Bill have already been introduced in Rajya Sabha.

New Parliament Building in India

The new Parliament Building in India, inaugurated on May 28, 2023, is a part of the Central Vista Redevelopment project in New Delhi. It features a unique triangular shape, a built-up area of about 64,500 square meters, and can seat 1,272 individuals. The design of the Lok Sabha Chamber is inspired by India’s national bird, the Peacock. The project encompasses the construction of the Parliament building, a Common Central Secretariat, and the renovation of the Rajpath, with a total cost of around 970 crore rupees. The architect behind this project is Bimal Patel.

Q.: Who is the architect of the New Parliament Building?

a) Raj Pal Reval
b) Bimal Patel
c) Anupama S Kundoo
d) B V Doshi

Ans : b) Bimal Patel

The central government of India has established a committee led by former President Ram Nath Kovind on 1 September 2023. The committee’s purpose is to examine the feasibility of conducting Lok Sabha (parliamentary) and assembly elections simultaneously across the country.

1. The government has called for a special session of Parliament to be held between September 18 and 22, with the agenda remaining undisclosed.
2. Assembly elections are scheduled in five states, namely Mizoram, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Rajasthan, in November-December. These are expected to be followed by the Lok Sabha elections in May-June of the following year.
3. Recent government actions have raised the possibility of advancing both the general elections and some state polls, which were originally scheduled to coincide with the Lok Sabha contest.
4. The assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh are currently slated to hold elections concurrently with the Lok Sabha elections.

Q.: Who is heading the committee established by the central government to explore the possibilities of conducting simultaneous Lok Sabha and assembly elections in India?

a) Prime Minister Narendra Modi
b) Ram Nath Kovind
c) Amit Shah
d) Rahul Gandhi

Ans : b) Ram Nath Kovind

The government has decided to call a Special Session of Parliament from September 18 to 22 and it will have five sittings.  The information was given by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi.

There is no official word on the agenda of the session yet, however there is speculation that, this special session may see bills for ‘One Nation, One Election’, Uniform Civil Code and women’s reservation.

Q.: Who is the current Parliamentary Affairs Minister ?

A) Pralhad Joshi
B) Narendra Modi
C) Amit Shah
D) Rajnath Singh

Ans : A) Pralhad Joshi