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Monsoon session extended by a week to pass bills

By Reuters

  • 26 Aug 2013
Monsoon session extended by a week to pass bills

Government has extended the monsoon session of parliament by seven days until September 6, government officials said on Monday, giving the Congress party-led ruling coalition more time to pass economic reforms after weeks of disruptions in the house.

Asia's third largest economy is growing at its slowest pace in a decade and the government is keen to pass several bills economists say will help reverse the malaise.

Protests by members on issues as wide-ranging as sex crimes, corruption and the creation of a new state had until Monday virtually paralysed parliament, but a debate on a $20 billion populist food bill broadly supported across the benches raised hopes the logjam had been cleared.

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A Congress party member of parliament and a parliamentary affairs officer told Reuters the session had now been extended by a week. The decision was due to be formalised after a cabinet meeting later on Monday.

The government will try to pass a bill to allow foreign investment in the pension sector during the extended session, a law seen as a first step to building a viable private pension industry in India.

Also up for debate is a bill setting rules for compensation for land acquired for infrastructure projects and industry, a move seen as raising costs but potentially reducing protests that have plagued India's industrialization drive.

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In 2012, parliament passed just 22 of the 94 bills listed for consideration. The government aimed to pass 43 bills in the current session.

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