Two of the three bills set for the Rajya Sabha’s legislative agenda on August 2 are the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill of 2023 and the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill of 2023.
The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023 is another bill that is scheduled for passage in the Upper House in addition to the other two. Piyush Goyal, the Union Minister of Textiles, Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, will introduce the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023 for consideration and approval. The bill will amend some existing laws to decriminalize and rationalize offenses in order to further strengthen trust-based governance for the benefit of everyday life and business. On July 27, the Lok Sabha approved the Bill.
In addition to making a few further changes to the Bill, the Committee also made seven general suggestions, six of which have been approved by all the relevant ministries and departments.
A total of 183 provisions in 42 Central Acts, which are overseen by 19 ministries and departments, are being recommended for decriminalization under The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2023.
The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2023 is currently being moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi in the Rajya Sabha for examination and passage in order to alter the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957. The Lok Sabha approved the Bill on July 28.
Bhupender Yadav, the Union Minister of Environment, Forestry, and Climate Change, is also anticipated to introduce the House to the Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023, for discussion and approval in order to alter the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980.
On July 26, the Lok Sabha approved the Bill. Due to the uproar caused by the opposition MPs about the Manipur ethnic violence situation, the bill has been on the House’s agenda for the past two days but has not been advanced.
The Bill aims to update the outdated Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980. Additionally, it aims to address difficulties with the 1980 statute’s execution in light of the Supreme Court’s order from December 12, 1996.
The Bill seeks to achieve India’s Nationally Determined Contribution target by creating a carbon sink of an additional 2.5 to 3.0 billion tons of CO2 equivalent by 2030 and has the vision of increasing the forest and tree cover to one-third of the land area.
