Rajya Sabha takes up appropriation bills passed by Lok Sabha

The Rajya Sabha yesterday took up the Appropriation (No. 2) Bill, 2024 and the Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation (No.3) Bill, 2024 for consideration and return. The Appropriation (No. 2) Bill seeks to authorise payment and appropriation of certain sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India for the services of the financial year 2024-25. 

The Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation (No.3) Bill authorises payment and appropriation of certain sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir for the services of the financial year 2024-25. The Lok Sabha has already passed these two bills.

Initiating the discussion on the bills in the Rajya Sabha, Digvijaya Singh of Congress said that the priority of the government should be reducing the gap between rich and poor, reducing price rise and addressing unemployment issues. He alleged that it is the eleventh Budget of the Modi government and such priorities are not reflected in the Union Budget 2024-25. He said, the government has removed customs duty in the Budget on three cancer drugs but the government should eliminate this duty on all kinds of cancer drugs. He also urged the government to remove the GST on



health insurance.

Derek O’ Brien of AITC  urged the government to roll back the 18 per cent GST being levied on health insurance and life insurance.

V.Vijayasai Reddy of YSRCP  requested the Finance Minister to bring the pension drawn up to one lakh rupees under tax exemption. He also urged the government to increase the PPF rate which currently attracts  7.1 per cent interest rate.

Bhubaneswar Kalita of BJP  said that in the Union Budget 2024-25, the focus of the government is towards the upliftment of poorer sections of the society, the youth, farmers and women. He said the government has always prioritised inclusive human resource development and social justice. Mr Kalita said, that in the manufacturing sector, the country has not only prospered but also stood first in the manufacturing of some products. He said the country has also become one of the largest exporters of mobile phones.

Members of other political parties also participated in the debate. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will give her reply to the discussion on Thursday. Later, the House was adjourned for the day.