382 passports of NRIs revoked since 2015

New Delhi: The government on Thursday told Parliament that 382 passports had been revoked or impounded since 2015 in cases pertaining to desertion of Indian women by NRI grooms and 216 women had so far sought legal and financial assistance from the government in such cases. Answering a question by Congress MP Partap Singh Bajwa, the External Affairs Ministry said the Indian Community Welfare Fund was set up in all-Indian Missions and Posts abroad to assist Indian nationals in times of distress overseas. tns

Ropeways brought under Road Ministry

New Delhi: Ropeways, cable cars and innovative mobility solutions like funicular railways have been brought under the ambit of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday. The move will give a fillip to infrastructure building in remote, inaccessible areas and hilly terrains of the country, the Road Transport, Highways and MSMEs Minister Gadkari said. TNS

Bill to amend arbitration law in LS

New Delhi: The government on Thursday introduced a Bill in the Lok Sabha to amend the arbitration law to ensure that all stakeholders get an opportunity to seek unconditional stay on enforcement of arbitral awards where the agreement or contract is “induced by fraud or corruption”. Introducing the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2021, amid uproar by opposition members over the farm laws, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Bill sought to check fly-by-night operators who took advantage of the law to get a favourable award by fraud. tns