Besides GST, here are five other bills Rajya Sabha passed this week

While the passage of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) in the Rajya Sabha was widely celebrated in India as a hallmark accomplishment, there were five more bills that were passed in the Rajya Sabha during the week.

These bills include the Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2016, Benami Transactions (Prohibition) (Amendment) Bill, 2016, Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2016, Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2016, and National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2016. All these Bills have already been passed by the Lok Sabha.

• The Benami Transactions (Prohibition) (Amendment) Bill, 2016 discourages the activity ofacquiring properties in the name of fictitious and other people. The amendments passed seek to amend the definition of “benami” transactions, establish adjudicating authorities and setting up of an appellate tribunal.
• The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2016 replaces the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2016 and introduces a uniform entrance examination for all medical institutions. The same applies for the Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2016.
• The Institutes of Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2016 will set up six new Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
• The National Institutes of Technology, Science Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2016 will now establish the NIT in Andhra Pradesh as an institute of national importance.

The Upper House, during the week, also held discussions on developments in States of Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh leading to change in the Governments there and role of Governors in respective States, and also on alleged diversion of money from Employees Provident Fund to Stock Market.

While the Lok Sabha passed 2 bills during the third week of the session. It passed the Enforcement of Security, Interest and Recovery of Debts, Loss and Miscellaneous Provisions (Amendment) Bill, 2016. It also voted in full the Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) 2016 – 17 and passed the relevant Appropriation (No 3) Bill, 2016. The House also held discussions on Sustainable Development Goals, and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana.

During the forthcoming week of the Session, Lok Sabha will take up the Central Agricultural University (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the Employee's Compensation (Amendment) Bill, 2016, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016, the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, and the High Courts (Alteration of Names) Bill, 2016.

It will also consider the amendments made by Rajya Sabha in the Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2016, as passed by Lok Sabha, after it is passed by Rajya Sabha. The Mental Health Care Bill, 2013, after it is passed by Rajya Sabha, may also be taken up by the House.