The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 was enacted consolidating and amending the provisions for the control and regulation of operations relating to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances under the Opium Act, 1857, Opium Act..

The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 was enacted consolidating and amending the provisions for the control and regulation of operations relating to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances under the Opium Act, 1857, Opium Act, 1878 and the Dangerous Drugs Act, 1930. This Act was amended once in 1989 and subsequently in 2001. During the implementation of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Act, 2001 certain anomalies have been noticed. It is proposed to rectify those anomalies and make certain further changes to strengthen the provisions of the Act. The amending Act of 2001 rationalized the sentence structure so as to ensure that while drug traffickers who traffic in significant quantities of drugs are punished with deterrent sentences, the addicts and those who commit less serious offences are sentenced to less severe punishment. Such provisions have sometimes been misinterpreted to imply that in determining quantities, only the pure drug content in the quantum of drug seized should be reckoned. Since the Act duly provides for punishment for preparations of drugs also, this amendment seeks to clarify the legislative intent to take the entire quantity of drug seized in a case for determining the quantum of punishment and not the pure drug content.  Provisions for tracing and seizing of illegally acquired properties pursuant to drug trafficking activity were introduced in the Principal Act by way of amendment in 1989 and were further strengthened in the amending Act of 2001. The need for further expanding the scope of such provisions and to broad base the definition of illegally acquired property so that it becomes more difficult for drug traffickers to enjoy the fruits of drug trafficking activity, has been experienced. It is proposed to do so by way of certain amendments.  The amendments also seek to put in place the enabling provisions for the introduction of an alternate method of obtaining alkaloids of opium through production of Concentrate of Poppy Straw instead of production and processing of opium, in the country. Besides, some other amendments seeking to address the anomalies arising out of the amendments made in 2001 are sought to be introduced along with measures to further strengthen the provisions of the Act.  The Bill seeks to achieve the above objects

Standing Committee Report Summary

Bill Summary

Narcotic Drugs And Psychotropic Substances (Amendment) Act, 2014

(i) Introduced in Lok Sabha on August 9, 2010 (ii) Passed in Lok Sabha August 17, 2010 (iii) Passed in Rajya Sabha August 28, 2010 (iv) Notified in Gazette Sep. 08, 2010

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As Introduced                As Passed by Lok Sabha          Errata       Both Houses (Attached)     Act

The Essential Commodities Act, 1955 seeks to provide, in the interests of the general public, for the control of the production, supply and distribution of, and trade and commerce in, certain commodities. Sugar and sugarcane are foodstuffs and thus essential commodities under the said ActUnder the system of partial control on sugar, a part of the sugar produced by sugar mills is requisitioned as levy sugar and the balance is allowed to be sold as non levy (free sale) sugar in the open market. While the price of non-levy sugar is determined by the market t forces, the price of levy sugar is fixed by the Central Government under the provisions of sub-section (3C) of section 3 of the aforesaid Act, having regard to— (a) the fair and remunerative price, if any, fixed for sugarcane by the Central Government; (b) the manufacturing cost of sugar; (c) the duty or tax, if any, paid or payable thereon; and (d) the securing of a reasonable return on the capital employed in the business of manufacturing of sugar Sub-section (3C) of section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 was last amended by clause (a) of section 2 of the Essential Commodities (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2009, inter alia, inserting therein the following Explanation II with effect from the 1st day of October, 1974 to clarify beyond doubt that the cost components of levy sugar mentioned in the said sub-section (3C) do not include the additional price of sugarcane paid or payable under the erstwhile clause 5A of the Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966 and the price paid or payable under any order or enactment of any State Government and any price agreed to between the producer and the grower of sugarcane or a sugarcane growers' co-operative society:'Explanation II.—For the removal of doubts, it is hereby declared that the expressions “minimum price” referred to in clause (a), “manufacturing cost of sugar” referred to in clause (b) and “reasonable return on the capital employed” referred to in clause (d) exclude the additional price of sugarcane paid or payable under clause 5A of the Sugarcane (Control) Order, 1966 and any price paid or payable under any order or enactment of any State Government and any price agreed to between the producer and the grower of sugarcane or a sugarcane growers' co-operative society.’. 3. The said Explanation II, however, remained effective till the 30th September, 2009 only as the said sub-section (3C) of section 3, was substituted by a new sub-section (3C) on and from the 1st day of October, 2009 vide clause (b) of section 2 of the aforesaid Amendment Act of 2009. Since the newly substituted sub-section (3C) does not contain any Explanation on the lines of the said Explanation II, it is likely that it may lead to a possible interpretation that the e intention of the legislature has been not to exclude, with effect from the 1st day of October, 2009, the consideration of any price paid or payable by the producer of sugar under any order or enactment of any State Government and any price agreed to between the producer and the grower of sugarcane or a sugarcane growers' co-operative society. Such an interpretation is again likely to lead to ambiguity and further litigation, which in fact, the Essential Commodities (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2009 was intended to remove. The objective of the amendment is to extend the application of Explanation II [inserted under sub-section (3C) by clause (a) of section 2 of the Amendment Act 36 of 2009] beyond the 30th September, 2009 as well.

(i) Introduced in Lok Sabha on March 3, 2008 (ii) Passed in Lok Sabha on March 11, 2008 (iii) Passed in Rajya Sabha March 18, 2008 (iv) Assented in March 28, 2008 

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   As Introduced          As Passed by Lok Sabha     Errata       Passed by Both Houses (attached)

Parliament enacted the Delimitation Act, 2002 and under its provisions, a Delimitation Commission was set-up to readjust the division of each State and Union territory into territorial constituencies for the purpose of elections to the House of the People and to the State Legislative Assemblies on the basis of 2001 Census. The Delimitation Commission has since completed the delimitation exercise in 25 States/Union territories. As the work of the Delimitation Commission progressed, new issues started coming to the fore and several concerns have been expressed regarding the on going delimitation exercise. The concerns expressed in regard to delimitation are varying in nature. They includeissues, such as, shifting of constituencies, making reserved constituencies unreserved or service versa, migration of people from tribal States to non-tribal States, migration of people in a State from rural areas to urban areas, etc. In the North-East States, even the census figures had been questioned in courts as incomplete and defective. The issues in regard to delimitation of constituencies are serious and very sensitive in nature and they may have impact even on the law and order situation in some parts of the country. In this background, the Government considered the amendments in the Delimitation Act, 2002 with a view to reducing the adverse impact of the delimitation exercise and it was decided that : (i) new section 10A may be added which should inter alia enable the Presidentto defer delimitation exercise in a State in order to preserve and protect the national unity and integrity or where there is a serious threat to the peace and public order; (ii) Delimitation Commission's order made with respect to the State of Jharkhand may be nullified and to continue the existing delimitation orders until the year 2026 in respect of that State.  In view of the exigencies explained in the preceding paragraphs, it became necessary to promulgate an Ordinance to insert a suitable provision (section 10A) in the Delimitation Act, 2002 for the deferment of the delimitation exercise in the North-East States; and to take care of the situation obtaining in the State of Jharkhand to insert a new section 10B and aproviso to sub-section (4) of section 10 of the Act so as to reduce the adverse impacts of the delimitation. As Parliament was not in session and the President was satisfied with the circumstances which rendered it necessary for her to take immediate action to take care of the situation in the North-East States and the Jharkhand by promulgation of the Delimitation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2008 on the 14th January, 2008. The Delimitation (Amendment) Bill, 2008 seeks to replace the Delimitation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2008.

(i) Introduced in Lok Sabha on March 3, 2008 (ii) Passed in Lok Sabha on March 11, 2008 (iii) Passed in Rajya Sabha March 18, 2008 (iv) Assented March 28, 2008 

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(i) Introduced in Lok Sabha on March 3, 2008 (ii) Passed in Lok Sabha on March 11, 2008 (iii) Passed in Rajya Sabha March 18, 2008 (iv) Assented March 28, 2008 

                                       As Introduced               As Passed in Lok Sabha                 Errata

Under the provisions of articles 82 and 170(3) of the Constitution, as amended by the Constitution (Eighty-fourth Amendment) Act, 2001, Parliament enacted the Delimitation Act, 2002. In terms of the provisions contained in the Delimitation Act, the Delimitation Commission was set up to readjust the division of each State and Union territory into territorial constituencies for the purpose of elections to the House of the People and to the State Legislative Assemblies on the basis of 2001 Census. The Delimitation Commission has since completed the delimitation work in respect of 25 States/Union territories and accordingly issued final orders under sections 8 and 9 of the Delimitation Act. Recently, the Delimitation (Amendment) Ordinance, 2008 (Ordinance 1 of 2008) was promulgated on 14th January, 2008 to insert new sections 10A and 10B in the Delimitation Act. Section 10A of the Delimitation Act empowers the President to defer delimitation exercise in a State in certain cases. In view of the prevailing conditions in North delimitation exercise in these States have been issued by the President on 8th February, 2008. Section 10B of the Delimitation Act has nullified the Delimitation Commission's orders issued with respect to the States of Jharkhand East States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and Nagaland, four orders to defer the delimitation exercise in these States have been issued by the President on 8th February, 2008. Section 10B of the Delimitation Act has nullified the Delimitation Commission's orders issued with respect to the States of Jharkhand. In view of above, in the States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Jharkhand, the Delimitation of Parliamentary and Assembly Constituencies Order, 1976 will continue to apply. The final orders in respect of the remaining 24 States/Union territories (except the State of Jharkhand) were required to be brought into force as provided in the second proviso to article 82 and the second proviso to clause (3) of article 170 of the Constitution by specifying the date by the President, as to when the re-adjustments shall take effect. In pursuance of the above provisions, the Presidential Order has been issued on 19th February, 2008 making delimitation orders issued by the Delimitation Commission under the Delimitation Act, effective from immediate effect in all the 22 States/Union territories except in the States of Tripura and Meghalaya in which case, the delimitation order shall take effect from 20th March, 2008 after the elections to the Legislative Assemblies in these States are over on 19th March, 2008.

(i) Introduced in Lok Sabha on Dec. 14, 2012 (ii) Passed in Lok Sabha Dec. 18, 2012 (iii) Passed in Rajya Sabha August 8, 2013 (iv) Notified in Gazette August 29, 2013

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(i) Introduced in Lok Sabha on Dec. 14, 2012 (ii) Passed in Lok Sabha Dec. 18, 2012 (iii) Passed in Rajya Sabha August 8, 2013 (iv) Notified in Gazette August 29, 2013

                       As Introduced            As Passed in Lok Sabha         Errata             Act 18 of 2013

The Companies Act, 1956 had been enacted with the object to consolidate and amend the law relating to the companies and certain other associations. The said Act has been in force for about fifty-five years and had been amended several times. In view of changes in the national and international economic environment and expansion and growth of economy of our country, the Central Government after duedeliberations decided to repeal the Companies Act, 1956 and enact a new legislation to provide for new provisions to meet the changed national and international, economic environment and further accelerate the expansion and growth of our economy. And for this purpose a Bill, namely, the Companies Bill, 2009 was introduced on 3rd August, 2009 in the Lok Sabha along with the Statement of Objects and Reasons appended to the said Bill outlining its salient features. The said Bill was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance for examination and report and the Committee gave its Report on the 31st August, 2010. Subsequent to the introduction of the Companies Bill, 2009 in the Lok Sabha, the Central Government received several suggestions for amendments in the said Bill. TheParliamentary Standing Committee on Finance also made numerous recommendations in its Report. The Central Government has accepted in general the recommendations of the Standing Committee and also considered the suggestions received by it from various stakeholders. In view of large amendments to the Companies Bill, 2009 arising out of the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance and suggestions of the stakeholders, the Central Government decided to withdraw the Companies Bill, 2009 and introduce a fresh Bill incorporating therein the recommendations of Standing Committee and suggestions of the stakeholders.