On the first day of the second part of the Budget session, members of the Upper House saw took up a discussion on the working of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region. In today’s session the House will take up responses to the same.

Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and S. Jaishankar are set to make statements on key issues of inadvertent missile firing, and the situation in Ukraine respectively.

Here are the latest updates:

11.24 a.m.

On pending dues and substance addiction

P. Wilson (DMK) raises the issue of pending dues from the Union Government including GST compensations to the State of Tamil Nadu. He says the Union Government owes ₹20,287. 38 crore under 38 heads. He urges the government to release the funds soon.

Ajay Pratap Singh speaks on the substance addiction, particularly in relation to consumption of Corex cough syrup. He urges the government to take notice of the same and take appropriate action to monitor the sale of such items.

11.16 a.m.

Zero hour under way

Zero Hour is currently under way in the Upper House of the Parliament

11.06 a.m.

Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh makes statement on ‘Inadvertent firing of Missile’

Defence minister Rajnath Singh addresses the House on the ‘Inadvertent firing of Missile’ that took place on March 9, 2022. He made the follwoing statement:

During routine maintenance and inspection, a missile was accidentally released at around 7 p.m. It was later learnt that the missile had landed inside the territory of Pakistan. While this incident is regretted, we are relieved that nobody was hurt due to the accident.

I would like to inform the august House that Government has taken serious note of the incident. A formal high level inquiry has been ordered. The inquiry would determine the exact cause of the said accident.

We attach highest priority to safety and security of our weapon systems. If any shortcoming is found, the same would be immediately rectified.

I would also like to state that a review of the Standard Operating Procedures for operations, maintenance and inspections is being conducted in the wake of this incident.

I can assure the House that the missile system is very reliable & safe. Moreover, our safety procedures and protocols are of the highest order and are reviewed from time to time. Our Armed Forces are well-trained and disciplined & are well experienced in handling such systems.

11.00 a.m.

Rajya Sabha proceedings commence

Proceedings for the day begin in the Upper House.

Members currently lay on the Table, papers listed against their name.

10.30 a.m.

List of Business

1. Reply to the discussion on the working of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, raised by Ripun Bora, on the March 14, 2022. 

2. Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh to make a statement regarding ‘Inadvertent firing of Missile’ on March 9, 2022. 

3. Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar to make a statement regarding ‘the situation in Ukraine’. 

4. Arjun Munda to move the The Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Orders (Amendment) Bill, 2022.

5. Papers and Reports to be laid on the Table

6. Question Hour

10.00 a.m.

Day 1 recap

The House debated the work of the Union Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) in eight North Eastern states.

The Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs informed in a written reply that ₹418.70 crore had been spent on the Central Vista Project so far, adding that the first phase of the project was targeted to be completed by May this year.