Important bills of 2024: Waqf, ONOE, The J&K Local Bodies Laws
Updated: Dec 29th, 2024
The year 2024 witnessed the introduction of key bills at the new Parliament building in the capital of India. From Kashmir to the Malabars, the bills impacted millions of Indians with hope of democracy in their eyes. While the Waqf Bill created a nationwide debate, India’s ‘heaven on earth’–Kashmir made headlines amid The Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill.
Here are the most discussed, significant bills of the year.
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024
Attributed as a controversial bill, the Waqf Bill changes the composition of the Central Waqf Council and Waqf Boards to include non-Muslim members. The Collector replaces the Survey Commissioner with authority to survey waqf properties. Government property identified as waqf will no longer be waqf; the Collector will decide ownership. The Tribunal’s finality has been revoked; appeals can now be made directly to the High Court.
One Nation, One Election
Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal introduced the Constitution Amendment Bill for ‘One Nation, One Election’ (ONOE Bill) in the Lok Sabha on December 17.
ONOE, also known as simultaneous elections, proposes aligning the election cycles of the Lok Sabha and State Assemblies. This would allow voters to cast their ballots for both tiers of government on the same day in their constituencies, though voting could still occur in phases across the country.
By synchronising these electoral timelines, the approach aims to address logistical challenges, reduce costs, and minimise disruptions caused by frequent elections.
Among the parties who vociferously opposed the ONOE Bill were the Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, the Shiv Sena (UBT), AIMIM and more.
Moreover, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal earlier said that the party opposes the idea ONOE as it will damage the idea of ‘parliamentary democracy, basic structure of the Constitution and federal polity’ of the country.
The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024
It was introduced in Lok Sabha on August 9, 2024. It amends the: (i) Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Act, 1934, (ii) Banking Regulation Act, 1949, (iii) State Bank of India Act, 1955, (iv) Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970, and (v) Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980.
The bill was passed on December 3, 2024, in Lok Sabha. The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 allows for the nomination of up to four persons, including provisions for simultaneous and successive nominations regarding deposits, articles in safe custody, and safety lockers.
The Finance Bill, 2024
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the bill on 23 July 2024. While seeking approval for the Bill in the Lok Sabha on 7 August 2024, the FM proposed amendments which aimed to resolve ambiguities and uncertainties associated with the original proposals in the Bill.
The Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024
This Bill aims to replace the Aircraft Act, 1934, retaining most of its provisions. It continues to establish the DGCA (for safety and regulation), BCAS (for security), and AAIB (for accident investigations), with the central government retaining oversight and the authority to review or modify their decisions. While the Act regulates activities like aircraft manufacturing, possession, use, and trade, the Bill adds provisions for regulating aircraft design.
The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024
The Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, introduced in the Rajya Sabha on February 5, 2024, proposes changes to the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950, for Andhra Pradesh. It seeks to include three tribes—Bondo Porja, Khond Porja, and Konda Savaras—in the state’s Scheduled Tribes list.
The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024
Introduced in the Rajya Sabha on February 5, 2024, this bill seeks to amend the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. This Act originally established the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) to address and regulate water pollution.
The proposed Bill aims to decriminalise certain violations, replacing them with monetary penalties. Initially, the Bill will apply to Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and the Union Territories, with provisions allowing other states to adopt it by passing resolutions.
The Jammu and Kashmir Local Bodies Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024
This bill was introduced in Lok Sabha on February 5, 2024. The Bill amends three laws applicable in the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). These are: (i) the J&K Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, (ii) the J&K Municipal Act, 2000 and (iii) the J&K Municipal Corporation Act, 2000. Key features include:
Reservations for Other Backward Classes (OBCs)
Mandate of the State Election Commission
Terms of Service of a State Election Commissioner
Removal of State Election Commissioner
Removal from the electoral roll
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 was introduced in Lok Sabha on February 5, 2024. The Bill seeks to prevent use of unfair means in public examinations.
Public examinations refer to examinations conducted by authorities specified under the Schedule to the Bill, or notified by the central government. These include:
(i) Union Public Service Commission
(ii) Staff Selection Commission
(iii) Railway Recruitment Board
(iv) National Testing Agency
(v) Institute of Banking Personnel Selection
(vi) Departments of the central government and their attached offices for recruitment.
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