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The Hindu
09-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Puducherry Assembly goes digital with inauguration of NeVA project
Puducherry Legislative Assembly has joined the select group of States and Union Territories in India to implement the Centre's National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA), a programme to digitise Assembly proceedings. Union Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs L. Murugan, on Monday (June 9, 2025), inaugurated NeVA application for the Puducherry Assembly at a function held in a private hotel here. The inaugural event was attended by Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, Speaker R. Selvam, Ministers, Legislators and senior officials from the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and UT. Implemented at a cost of ₹8.5 crore, NeVA would enable the Puducherry Assembly to conduct the proceedings of the next session in a digitised format. The legislators would be able to read the customary address of the Lt. Governor, Chief Minister's budget speech, list of business, notices served by the members, raise questions and replies of Ministers on the tablet installed on the tables of MLAs in the House. The system is integrated in such a way that Secretaries and Department heads could assist Ministers by providing real -time inputs while MLAs raise supplementary questions. The legislators will have access to the House proceedings of other States and Union Territories in their regional language as NeVA has been conceived as a unified platform, embodying the vision of 'One Nation- One Application'. 'The aim of the project is to ensure that the Legislative Business of the House is conducted in a paperless manner and to bring all the legislatures of the country together, in one platform, thereby creating a massive data depository without having the complexity of multiple applications,' a note issued by Press Information Bureau said. Partnering with BHASHINI, Ministry of Electronics, and Information Technology, NeVA also integrates AI/ML based real-time translation services, boosting linguistic inclusivity. So far, 28 State Legislatures have signed MoU with the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs for NeVA implementation and 18 houses have already transformed into digital format for conducting the proceedings. The project would cost the Centre around ₹673 crore. Mr. Murugan said the big digitisation process happening in the country was one of the components of making the country a developed nation by 2047. 'After Narendra Modi took over as the Prime Minister of the country in 2014, a big transformation is happening in the country. The Digital India mooted by the Prime Minister was part the transformation. People are getting money in their bank accounts under various welfare schemes by the click of a button,' he said. The Lt. Governor suggested the government to make the Assembly proceedings live on television as the next big step. Chief Minister N. Rangasamy urged the officials to make full utilisation of the project to strengthen the proceedings of the house.
Hindustan Times
07-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Pak raises salaries of assembly speaker, Senate chairman to ₹1.3 million: Report
The Pakistani government has formally raised the monthly salaries of the National Assembly speaker and the Senate chairman to ₹1.3 million, according to a media report on Saturday. The new salary marks a significant rise from their previous salary of ₹205,000. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs issued the notification on May 29, but details surfaced on Friday, Samaa TV reported. The monthly salary for both officials has been fixed at ₹1.3 million and they will also receive an additional 50 per cent as a temporary allowance on top of it, according to the notification. The revised salary structure will be effective retrospectively from January 1, 2025. Earlier on March 21, it was reported that the salaries and allowances of federal cabinet members had been significantly increased, with federal ministers, ministers of state and advisers receiving hikes of up to 188 per cent. Sources had said that the federal ministers approved a summary of the salary increments for themselves and ministers of state through circulation. An amendment to the Federal Ministers and Ministers of State (Allowances and Salaries) Act, 1975, was approved, paving the way for these increases. Following the bill's approval, the revised salary of a federal minister, minister of state and adviser would stand at ₹519,000. Previously, federal ministers were earning ₹200,000, while ministers of state had a salary of ₹180,000. This decision marked a substantial 159 per cent increase in the salaries of federal ministers, while ministers of state and advisers have witnessed an increment of up to 188 per cent. Earlier this year, the Finance Committee had approved an increase in the salaries of members of the National Assembly and senators, raising their monthly pay to ₹519,000, according to the report.
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Pakistani govt raises salaries of NA speaker, Senate chairman to 1.3 mn: Report
Islamabad: The Pakistani government has formally raised the monthly salaries of the National Assembly speaker and the Senate chairman to Rs 1.3 million, according to a media report on Saturday. The new salary marks a significant rise from their previous salary of Rs 205,000. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs issued the notification on May 29, but details surfaced on Friday, Samaa TV reported. The monthly salary for both officials has been fixed at Rs 1.3 million and they will also receive an additional 50 per cent as a temporary allowance on top of it, according to the notification. The revised salary structure will be effective retrospectively from January 1, 2025. Live Events Earlier on March 21, it was reported that the salaries and allowances of federal cabinet members had been significantly increased, with federal ministers, ministers of state and advisers receiving hikes of up to 188 per cent. Sources had said that the federal ministers approved a summary of the salary increments for themselves and ministers of state through circulation. An amendment to the Federal Ministers and Ministers of State (Allowances and Salaries) Act, 1975, was approved, paving the way for these increases. Following the bill's approval, the revised salary of a federal minister, minister of state and adviser would stand at Rs 519,000. Previously, federal ministers were earning Rs 200,000, while ministers of state had a salary of Rs 180,000. This decision marked a substantial 159 per cent increase in the salaries of federal ministers, while ministers of state and advisers have witnessed an increment of up to 188 per cent. Earlier this year, the Finance Committee had approved an increase in the salaries of members of the National Assembly and senators, raising their monthly pay to Rs 519,000, according to the report.
Business Recorder
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
2024 Pakistan elections report: Election watchdog barred from briefing Senate panel
ISLAMABAD: The government on Thursday stopped an election watchdog from briefing a Senate committee, under the pretext of cancelling the group's registration over a report critical of the 2024 general elections. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs told Senate Standing Committee on Parliamentary Affairs that the Pattan Development Organization could no longer be invited, citing the cancellation of its registration. Pattan's chief, Sarwar Bari, has been under pressure since the group released a report alleging widespread irregularities and vote-rigging in the controversial 2024 general elections. Pattan was expected to offer suggestions on improving election transparency, but its removal overshadowed the committee's discussion on electoral reforms. Led by Senator Dr Mohammad Humayun Mohmand, the committee reviewed proposals to move away from the current first-past-the-post system. Lawmakers discussed switching to proportional representation, aiming to better reflect the public's vote. The panel also debated internet voting for overseas Pakistanis. While concerns remain over security and trust, some members said the idea is worth exploring – with the right safeguards in place. Lawmakers agreed that any digital system would face serious legal and technical challenges but said reforms are needed to strengthen the country's democracy. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Scroll.in
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Meeting diaspora, watching garba, speaking to ANI: What anti-terror MP delegations are doing abroad
Seven delegations comprising retired Indian diplomats and MPs from all major political parties are travelling around the world to deliver India's message of zero tolerance for cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. According to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, the reason for picking members from parties across the political spectrum was to 'project India's national consensus and resolute approach to combating terrorism' on the world stage. But many MPs appear to be treating this as an opportunity to project themselves to their voters back home too. The public engagements of prominent politicians participating in this exercise show that the challenge of Pakistan-backed terrorism is not the only one taking up all their time. The netas are paying special attention to the Indian diaspora, attending cultural functions and speaking to the Indian media. Domestic politics first For example, Abhishek Banerjee, the national general secretary of the Trinamool Congress, visited the memorial of Bengali freedom fighter Rash Behari Bose in Tokyo on May 23. There, he complained about the rundown condition of the structure dedicated to this 'great son of Bengal' and asked the Indian ambassador in Japan to take it up with the local authorities. Banerjee also offered prayers at the Ramakrishna Mission in Singapore. This sect of Hinduism, which originated in nineteenth-century Kolkata and spread across the world, continues to wield a powerful influence in West Bengal. During his official visit to Japan, Shri @abhishekaitc took time from his demanding schedule to visit the Tama Cemetery in Tokyo, where he paid solemn tribute to freedom fighter, national hero, and one of Bengal's most revered son — Shri Rash Behari Bose. — All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) May 23, 2025 The Bengal leader was by no means the only one playing to his gallery at home on this global sojourn. Ideological opponents both to his Left and Right did not lose sight of their domestic audiences either. Bharatiya Janata Party MP Nishikant Dubey, who is part of the Indian contingent touring Bahrain and Kuwait, spoke to journalists there about subjects like India's foreign policy and Pakistan-linked terrorism. Except that the interviews were for Indian news wire agencies, such as Asian News International and Press Trust of India. John Brittas of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) was in Seoul meeting South Korean ministers and dignitaries. But he still found the time to write a long response to his Kerala rival Shashi Tharoor, who had criticised the CPI(M)-led Kerala government for providing aid to Turkey after an earthquake in February 2023. Photo ops and desi meetups Tharoor, himself an expert on international relations, is leading a delegation too. His group has so far visited the United States, Guyana and Panama. All three countries are members of the United Nations Security Council at present. Soon after the group arrived in New York City on May 24, they paid their respects at the 9/11 memorial and museum. It was a gesture intended to resonate with America's own experience with terrorism. However, there were no American elected representatives around to witness it or meet the Indians because the US Congress is currently in recess. The visit did receive substantial media coverage – but only in India. American papers and television channels did not consider it newsworthy. After this Tharoor's delegation headed to Guyana first and then Panama. On Thursday, the Congress MP shared pictures from his visit to the Panama Canal, which he called an 'engineering marvel'. The group in Kuwait, led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, also went to sites of cultural significance, such as the Grand Mosque. In the National Library, they studied 'rare manuscripts, ancient books, historical coins' displayed as part of an exhibition to commemorate 250 years of friendship between India and Kuwait. Besides such efforts, most delegations are devoting a lot of time to meeting the Indian diaspora. Tharoor's group, for example, spoke to members of the Indian community everywhere it went. The Congress leader even posted pictures from a garba performance at one such event in Panama supposedly attended by 300 Gujaratis and Sindhis. In Qatar, Manish Tewari, another Congress MP, spoke in Hindi while talking to expat Indians about Pakistan's involvement in terrorism against India. When Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi met with Indians in Kuwait , he described Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief Asim Munir as 'stupid jokers'. Priyanka Chaturvedi of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and Supriya Sule of the Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar also put up social media posts about their meetings with meetings the Indian diaspora. Chaturvedi was in France, while Sule was in South Africa. Our conversation with the Indian diaspora based in Paris was heartening and heartfelt. They continue to be the best brand ambassadors of India. 3/ — Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) May 27, 2025 The diplomatic grind The aim of this diplomatic exercise was to convince the world that India had no option but to respond firmly to the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead and that its military action against Pakistan was 'focused, measured and non-escalatory' in nature. But public documents released by the Ministry of External Affairs suggest that most foreign governments hosting the Indian delegations are yet to be convinced. While ministers and dignitaries in these countries have extended solidarity and support to India in its fight against terrorism, they are stopping short of ascribing the responsibility for Pahalgam to Pakistan. The responses received by the Indian contingent travelling through East Asia illustrate this. That group managed to get an audience with the foreign minister of Japan, who expressed his 'heartfelt condolences' to the victims of the terror attack. They also met the junior foreign minister of Singapore. 'Singapore strongly condemns all acts of terrorism and stands with India against terrorism,' she told them. However, neither of these officials made any mention of Pakistan. There were cultural performances (the garba stood out), a lively q&A… — Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) May 28, 2025 The vice foreign minister of South Korea also 'condemned the [Pahalgam] attack and expressed understanding of India's position' during his meeting with the delegation. But he did not offer explicit support for India's actions during Operation Sindoor. Harsh Pant, vice president of the Observer Research Foundation and a professor of international relations at King's College London contended that in spite of this lack of visible impact at the moment, the delegations were a good idea. 'The world has a lot of things to worry about at the moment and the India-Pakistan issue is not a top priority,' Pant explained. 'But India is doing well to ensure that its message about how it wants to deal with the issue of terrorism is conveyed to its partners and allies. The move to send all-party delegations is a good, sound one. We will find out its effectiveness as time goes by.'
