Parliament Passes Anti-Hijacking Bill, 2016

 Parliament has passed the Anti-Hijacking Bill, 2016 to widen ambit of law dealing with this anti-hijacking crime.

•  The Bill was first passed in the Rajya Sabha and later in the Lok Sabha in May 2016. 
• Now the Bill will go for Presidential assent as per Article 111 of Indian Constitution. 
• The Bill provides for the death penalty for hijackers even if ground airport personnel and handling staff are killed during such acts.

Parliament passes Industries (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015

The Parliament has passed the Industries (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015.

•  The Bill amends the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951.
•  Now it will go for Presidential assent as per Article 111 of the Indian Constitution.
•  The bill seeks to bring industries engaged in the manufacture of potable alcohol under the exclusive control of States in all respects.
• However, the Centre will continue to be responsible for formulating policy and regulating foreign collaboration for all products of fermentation industries, including industrial and potable alcohol.

The Industries (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015 :

• The Industries (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015 was introduced in Lok Sabha on December 7, 2015.
• The Bill was introduced by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Ms Nirmala Sitharaman.
•  The Bill amends the Industries (Development and Regulation) Act, 1951.

Parliament passes Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2016

Parliament passed Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2016 to include certain communities in the list of Scheduled Castes (SC) from 4 states.

•  The bill seeks to amend Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 to include certain communities from Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Kerala and West Bengal in the list.
•  It also has provisions for exclusion of certain communities from Odisha and removal of area restriction in respect of certain communities.

About the Bill :

• The bill was introduced in the Parliament by Union Social Justice Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot as per the provisions of Article 341 of the Constitution.
•  Chhattisgarh: Inclusion of Sais, Sahis, Sarathi, Soot-Sarathi, Thanwar communities in the list. 
• Haryana: Inclusion of (i) Aheria, Aheri, Hari, Heri, Thori, Turi and (ii) Rai Sikh communities in the list.