Parliamentary Proceedings For 27th March, 2025
Key Highlights Of The Proceedings
The proceedings of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha began at 11:00 AM.
Shri Rajkumar Roat (BAP, Banswara (ST), Rajasthan) raised concerns regarding unfair pricing practices in airline ticketing.
Shri Om Prakash Birla Ji (Speaker, Lok Sabha; BJP, Kota, Rajasthan) informed the House that the Rajya Sabha has proposed amendments to the Immigration & Foreigners Bill, 2025.
Shri Shrirang Appa Barne (Shiv Sena, Maval , Maharashtra) strongly supported the bill, emphasizing its role in closing legal loopholes that have led to a rise in illegal infiltrators. He highlighted a 2007 UPA Government report, which estimated 1.5 crore (15 million) illegal Bangladeshis in India, a number that has continued to rise over the years.
Shri Amit Shah Ji (Union Minister, Ministry of Home Affairs; BJP, Gandhinagar, Gujarat) addressed the House. He emphasized the necessity of robust research and development regulations to propel India to global leadership by 2047. He highlighted that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) had provided shelter to persecuted minorities from neighboring countries. He highlighted that the bill would replace outdated colonial-era laws—such as the Passport Act of 1920, the Registration of Foreigners Act of 1939, the Foreigners Act of 1946, and the Immigration Act of 2002—which were originally formulated in the British Parliament for colonial interests.
Shri Tiruchi Siva (DMK, Tamil Nadu) expressed his concerns regarding the fishermen who had been apprehended, stating that out of 526 apprehended, only 501 were released. He noted that in 2025, 135 fishermen were apprehended, with only 75 released. Shri S. Jaishankar (Union Minister, Ministry of External Affairs; BJP, Gujarat) responded by confirming that as of 27th March, there were 86 fishermen in Sri Lankan custody and that one more trawler had been apprehended that day, resulting in 11 additional fishermen being taken into custody.
Shri Jairam Ramesh (INC, Karnataka) discussed the three-phase nuclear plan involving uranium, plutonium, and thorium. He questioned when the Kalpakkam reactor would be set up and asked about progress on advanced thorium reactors planned for phase three. Dr. Jitendra Singh (Minister of State (I/C), Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences; BJP, Udhampur, Jammu &Kashmir) clarified that a 200 MW reactor is not classified as an SMR due to differing technologies. He cited delays in reactor installations as a primary reason for backwardness in this sector, referencing Kudankulam’s timeline from inception in 1988 to its first reactor being installed only in 2014.
Smt Nirmala Sitharaman (Union Minister, Ministry of Finance; BJP, Karnataka) moved a motion to consider the Finance Bill for 2025-26. Shri P Chidambaram (INC, Tamil Nadu) expressed his view that the fiscal deficit has increased from 4.4% in 2024 to 4.8%. He stated that unless gross tax revenue to GDP exceeds 12%, fiscal policy improvements would be impossible.
Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman (Union Minister, Ministry of Finance; BJP, Karnataka) mentioned that tax rates for those earning over ₹ 12 lakh have been reduced. She highlighted that various benefits have been provided to taxpayers and introduced a rebate system to maintain revenue while offering relief.
The motion for consideration of the Appropriation (No.3) Bill, 2025 and Finance Bill, 2025 was adopted. The motion moved by Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman (Union Minister, Ministry of Finance; BJP, Karnataka) that the Bill be returned was adopted and the Bill was returned.
The Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha were adjourned at 6:22 PM and 7:30 PM respectively, until 11:00 AM on Friday, March 28th, 2025.
Details Of Proceedings In The Lok Sabha
The proceedings of the Lok Sabha commenced at 11 AM.
Shri Om Birla Ji (Speaker, Lok Sabha; BJP, Kota, Rajasthan) commenced the proceedings of the house with Question Hour.
Shri Rajkumar Roat (BAP, Banswara (ST), Rajasthan) raised concerns regarding unfair pricing practices in airline ticketing. Responding to the question, Shri Kinjarapu Ramohan Naidu (MoS, Ministry of Civil Aviation; TDP, Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh) stated that Airfares are determined dynamically based on demand and competition, following international practices. The Government does not regulate ticket prices but ensures fair competition among airlines. Unhappy with the response, Shri Rajkumar Roat (BAP, Banswara (ST), Rajasthan) accused airlines of exploiting passengers and criticized the Aircraft Rules, 1937, for allowing airlines to operate without Government price regulation. He questioned why the Aircraft Rules, 1937, a British-era law, are not being changed.
Shri Om Prakash Birla Ji (Speaker, Lok Sabha; BJP, Kota, Rajasthan) informed the House that the Rajya Sabha has proposed amendments to the Immigration Bill, 2025. The bill, originally introduced and passed by Shri Amit Shah Ji (Union Minister, Ministry of Home Affairs; Gandhinagar, Gujarat) in the Lok Sabha in 2024, was now placed before the House for consideration of the amendments.
Shri Manish Tewari (INC, Chandigarh) raised concerns over the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025. He stressed that any new legislation must align with Articles 14, 19, and 21 of the Indian Constitution. He stated that Clause 3 allows immigration officers to deny funeral rights under certain circumstances, which he criticized as excessive and unfair. He also criticized the provisions of Clause 16 that places the burden of proof on individuals to prove their citizenship, violating the principle of innocent until proven guilty. He urged the Home Minister to include immigration judges to ensure a fair appeals process. He concluded by requesting the House to reconsider and amend these provisions to ensure they uphold constitutional values and fundamental rights.
Shri Putta Mahesh Kumar (TDP, Eluru, Andhra Pradesh) described Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025 as a progressive step towards national security. Expressing concerns over illegal immigration, he cited data indicating that undocumented immigrants in India have increased by 10–15% annually over the last decade, reaching approximately two million by 2020–21. He satated that international student enrollment has increased by 45% over the past ten years, with over 50,000 students from 160 countries now studying in India. He stressed the importance of maintaining accurate and secure records while respecting privacy laws. He praised India’s medical tourism sector, which has grown by 18% in the past five years, contributing $9 billion to the economy.
Shri Shrirang Appa Barne (Shiv Sena, Maval , Maharashtra) strongly supported the bill, emphasizing its role in closing legal loopholes that have led to a rise in illegal infiltrators. He highlighted a 2007 UPA Government report, which estimated 1.5 crore (15 million) illegal Bangladeshis in India, a number that has continued to rise over the years. Referring to past government initiatives, he cited the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019. He provided law enforcement data, revealing that over 1.25 lakh (125,000) illegal Bangladeshis have been apprehended in Assam alone.
Shri Amit Shah Ji (Union Minister, Ministry of Home Affairs; BJP, Gandhinagar, Gujarat) addressed the House. He highlighted that the bill would replace outdated colonial-era laws—such as the Passport Act of 1920, the Registration of Foreigners Act of 1939, the Foreigners Act of 1946, and the Immigration Act of 2002—which were originally formulated in the British Parliament for colonial interests.
The motion for consideration was adopted and clause-by-clause consideration of the Bill was taken up. The motion that the Bill be passed was moved by Shri Amit Shah Ji (Union Minister, Ministry of Home Affairs; BJP, Gandhinagar, Gujarat). The motion was adopted and the Bill was passed.
The proceedings of the Lok Sabha were adjourned at 6:22 PMuntil 11:00 AM on Monday, March 28th, 2025.
Details Of Proceedings In The Rajya Sabha
The proceedings of the Rajya Sabha commenced at 11 AM.
Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar Ji (Chairman, Rajya Sabha) proceeded to ask members to speak about the matters raised with permission in advance which are mentioned below:
Shri Tiruchi Siva (DMK, Tamil Nadu) expressed his concerns regarding the fishermen who had been apprehended, stating that out of 526 apprehended, only 501 were released. He noted that in 2025, 135 fishermen were apprehended, with only 75 released. He urged the minister to take action to protect the fishermen from Sri Lankan forces. Shri S. Jaishankar (Union Minister, Ministry of External Affairs; BJP, Gujarat) responded by confirming that as of 27th March, there were 86 fishermen in Sri Lankan custody and that one more trawler had been apprehended that day, resulting in 11 additional fishermen being taken into custody. He mentioned that out of these, 83 were serving sentences while three were awaiting trial. He pointed out that many of those serving sentences were repeat offenders, complicating the situation. He explained that the government inherited this issue from the previous administration, tracing its origins back to 1974 when borderlines were drawn and a letter exchange in 1976 demarcated fishing boundaries. He called on the Sri Lankan Government to adopt a humanitarian stance on this matter and highlighted that the union government was implementing the Matshya Sampadaya Yojana to fit transponders on boats to prevent crossings while exploring alternative solutions.
Shri Jairam Ramesh (INC, Karnataka) discussed the three-phase nuclear plan involving uranium, plutonium, and thorium, highlighting India's substantial thorium reserves but noting its non-fissile nature. He questioned when the Kalpakkam reactor would be set up and asked about progress on advanced thorium reactors planned for phase three. Dr. Jitendra Singh (Minister of State (I/C), Ministry of Science and Technology, Ministry of Earth Sciences; BJP, Udhampur, Jammu &Kashmir) clarified that a 200 MW reactor is not classified as an SMR due to differing technologies. He cited delays in reactor installations as a primary reason for backwardness in this sector, referencing Kudankulam’s timeline from inception in 1988 to its first reactor being installed only in 2014.
Smt Nirmala Sitharaman (Union Minister, Ministry of Finance; BJP, Karnataka) moved a motion to consider the Finance Bill for 2025-26. She emphasized that the Bill aims to provide approval for the Finance Bill as passed by the Lok Sabha.
Shri P Chidambaram (INC, Tamil Nadu) questioned the government's ability to fulfill its promise of reducing the fiscal deficit, pointing out that it had increased from 4.4% in 2024 to 4.8% now. He stated that unless gross tax revenue to GDP exceeds 12%, fiscal policy improvements would be impossible.
Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman (Union Minister, Ministry of Finance; BJP, Karnataka) remarked that the Finance Bill aligns with the government's vision, which includes steps to improve ease of doing business and honor Indian taxpayers. She expressed gratitude to her team at the Finance Ministry for their efforts and mentioned that tax rates for those earning over ₹ 12 lakh have been reduced. She explained that significant changes in the Finance Bill include rationalizing TDS/TCS rates to ease compliance burdens and raising thresholds for collections. She further indicated that reducing customs duties would aid medium industries and enhance the manufacturing sector by decreasing tariff rates from 21 to 8.
In response to criticisms from the former Finance Minister, she noted that under PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s leadership, India has progressed from being the 10th largest economy in 2014 to the fifth largest today, with expectations of becoming the third largest soon. She asserted that Congress lacks substantive critiques of the budget due to their inability to identify any shortfalls. She emphasized that these funds are utilized for centrally sponsored schemes implemented by states. In discussing tax devolution to Kerala, she reported a 239% increase since the UPA period and a 509% surge in grants and aids.
She concluded by attributing Kerala's crisis to mismanagement by both UDF and LDF governments rather than any fault of the Central Government, while also highlighting infrastructure projects approved under PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s leadership.
The motion for consideration of the Appropriation (No.3) Bill, 2025 and Finance Bill, 2025 was adopted. The motion moved by Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman (Union Minister, Ministry of Finance; BJP, Karnataka) that the Bill be returned was adopted and the Bill was returned.
The proceedings of the Rajya Sabha were adjourned at 7:30 PM until 11:00 AM on Monday, March 28th, 2025.
Key Events Outside The Parliament
Smt Mahua Moitra (AITC, Krishnagar, West Bengal) backed Kerala CS Sarada Muraleedharan on colour bias, saying Kerala & Bengal uphold women’s dignity. She asserted that India should respect women and reject kin colour-based comments.
Shri Ravi Kishan (BJP, Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh) slammed Akhilesh Yadav’s remark on cowsheds, stating that cow dung is essential for cooking, medicine, and religious rituals. He accused the SP chief of having an anti-Hindu mindset, recalling the party’s past actions against 'kar sevaks' and the Maha Kumbh.
Shri Shashi Tharoor (INC, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala) remarked on US President Donald Trump citing India's voter ID system in his executive order on election reforms, highlighting that while Americans self-declare their citizenship while voting, India has a well-established verification system with voter lists and ID cards in place since 1952. He noted that India's electoral system is respected globally and viewed Trump's acknowledgment as a recognition of India's effective voting process.
Shri Sudhir Gupta (BJP, Mandsour, Madhya Pradesh) criticized Congress MLA Rajendra Kumar Singh's reported statement, attributing it to the values instilled by Congress leadership, including Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and Jitu Patwari. He expressed deep embarrassment, stating that such remarks stem from either malice, a lack of intelligence, or a deliberate conspiracy, ultimately bringing shame to the country.
Shri Gaurav Gogoi (INC, Jorhat, Assam)stated that a delegation of the INDI Alliance, including Congress, SP, TMC, DMK, RJD and other parties, met the Speaker during Zero Hour and submitted a letter signed by alliance members, including RSP and Shiv Sena (UBT). The letter highlighted alleged violations of parliamentary traditions and rules by the ruling party. He criticized the Speaker for citing Rule 349 without specifying the incident and accused the government of politicizing the matter outside the House. He also pointed out that when LoP Rahul Gandhi stood up to speak, the House was immediately adjourned.