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Lok Sabha Passes NCDC Amendment and Kerala Name Bill Amid Protests

The Lok Sabha approved the National Cooperative Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2026 and the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill 2026 through a voice vote on Tuesday. The proceedings were marked by opposition protests, leading to the adjournment of the House for the day.

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Key takeaways

  • The Lok Sabha passed two bills, the NCDC (Amendment) Bill 2026 and the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill 2026, via voice vote on Tuesday.
  • Opposition protests, demanding Union Home Minister Amit Shah's presence, marked the proceedings.
  • The NCDC Amendment Bill expands the corporation's ability to fund and provide loans/grants to cooperative entities.
  • Cooperation Minister Murlidhar Mohol highlighted significant increases in NCDC fund disbursals under the current government.

The Lok Sabha passed two significant legislative pieces on Tuesday: the National Cooperative Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2026 and the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill 2026. Both were approved by a voice vote amidst continuing protests from opposition parties.

Following the passage of the bills, the House was adjourned for the remainder of the day. With only one day left in the Monsoon Session, the prospect of Union Home Minister Amit Shah making a statement remained uncertain. Government sources indicated his readiness to speak if the opposition ceased disruptions.

What Happened

The opposition's continued protests, demanding the presence of Amit Shah in the House, coincided with the legislative proceedings. Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju commented on the passage of the bill to rename Kerala, noting the inability of Congress leader K C Venugopal, who is from Kerala, to speak on the matter. Union Minister of State for Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol also briefly addressed the House before the NCDC Bill was passed, speaking amidst slogan-shouting.

Background

The National Cooperative Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2026 aims to expand the scope of the NCDC. Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol explained that under the original 1962 Act, certain organizations advancing the cooperative sector were not eligible for NCDC funding. The amendment seeks to rectify this by allowing the Corporation to provide funds to state governments for financing cooperative societies, and to extend loans and grants directly to national-level cooperative societies or those operating across multiple states. Furthermore, the bill permits state governments to channel NCDC funding to any entity engaged in cooperative development, and allows the Corporation to offer loans and grants directly to such entities or cooperative societies against security.

Mohol highlighted the NCDC's increased disbursement of funds under the current government, stating that Rs 4 lakh crore were disbursed in 11 years, compared to Rs 45,000 crore over 50 years previously. He asserted that no additional budget is required for the amendment, as it primarily broadens the NCDC's operational activities and removes certain obsolete provisions from the original act, making it more effective in meeting current societal needs within the cooperative sector.

Key Facts

  • The Lok Sabha passed the National Cooperative Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2026 and the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill 2026 by voice vote on Tuesday.
  • Opposition protests continued in the House, seeking the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
  • Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju remarked on the passage of the Kerala name alteration bill amid opposition concerns.
  • Union Minister of State for Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol stated that the NCDC Amendment Bill 2026 expands the corporation's activities and removes redundant aspects of the 1962 Act.
  • Mohol indicated that the NCDC disbursed Rs 4 lakh crore in the last 11 years, against Rs 45,000 crore in the preceding 50 years.

Sources reviewed

Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.

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