The Opposition continues to raise the issue of fuel price hikes and farmers' protest over the three farm laws in the Budget Session of Parliament. Both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha have witnessed multiple adjournments in this session as the opposition members storm the House.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is likely to make a statement in both Houses regarding recent developments pertaining to welfare abroad of Indians, NRIs and PIOs in the COVID-19 situation.

Bills are likely to be introduced in the Lok Sabha - The Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2021; The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2021; The National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (Amendment) Bill, 2021; The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2021; The Marine Aids to Navigation Bill, 2021 Bills.

The Rajya Sabha is likely to take up The National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2019.

Here's what happened in the Parliament:

# Sonia Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee and Digvijaya Singh had raised questions on the police action and, in a way, sided with the terrorists. I demand that they should apologise to the nation: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on 2008 Batla House encounter verdict

# The government has not given permission to any new hydroelectric project in Upper Ganges region in the last six years: Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar in Rajya Sabha

# The BJP Parliamentary Party meeting on March 17 in Parliament.

# India is the only country in G-20 forum implementing Paris accord commitments on renewable energy and afforestation: Government tells Rajya Sabha

# The Rajya Sabha passes National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2019

# National Testing Agency (NTA) under the Ministry of Education conducts Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for the undergraduate programme in medical sciences, in consultation with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare: Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal

In 2021, the NEET (UG) will be conducted by NTA only one time. NTA has informed that they have not received any memorandum in this regard: Education Minister Ramesh Pokriyal

# Just as the government has led the way for economic recovery at home, we are also similarly untiring in our efforts to help renew the livelihoods of our people abroad. The air travel arrangements are a necessary enabling measure: EAM S Jaishankar in Rajya Sabha

# In recent months, the Prime Minister has engaged the leaders of Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Oman. Under his directions, I have travelled even during the COVID-19 period to UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman to discuss with the governments there the welfare of our people: EAM S Jaishankar

# Because of restrictions at their end, such travel was not possible to Saudi Arabia & Kuwait. But I've been in regular touch with their Foreign Ministers. I have also recently hosted UAE Foreign Minister in India and expect to do so with that of Kuwait very soon: EAM S Jaishankar

# The welfare of students studying abroad has also been of particular concern for all of us. Across the world, our embassies have been given instructions to reach out to them, monitor their situation and assist their return, where required: EAM S Jaishankar in Lok Sabha

# As with workers and professionals, the focus has now shifted to their going back to universities. Some countries have been more open in this regard than others, obviously reflecting their particular COVID-19 challenge: EAM S Jaishankar in Lok Sabha

# 71,01,929 EPF accounts closed during April-December, 2020. Rs 73,498 crores withdrawn from EPF accounts between April-Dec 2020 and 55,125 crores was withdrawn during April-Dec 2019: Ministry of Labour

# Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 PM.

# We are taking preventive measures to avoid COVID-19, but the leaders of this country, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, are holding large gatherings in West Bengal. This reflects their alertness for the situation: Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge

# There appears to be a continuation of attitudes and prejudices from the colonial areas, especially in the UK. The recent case of Rashmi Samant, a student from Karnataka, is a classic case in point: BJP MP Ashwini Vaishnaw

"She overcame all the challenges to become the first Indian woman president of Oxford University Students' Union. What treatment was meted out to her? Shouldn't this diversity be celebrated, instead she was cyberbullied to the point that she had to resign," Ashwini Vaishnaw says

# President of Inter-Parliamentary Union, Duarte Pacheco present in the Rajya Sabha today to observe the proceedings of the House.

# External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar speaks on the racism row at the Oxford University. "As the land of Mahatma Gandhi, we can never ever turn our eyes away from racism. Particularly so when it is in a country where we have such a large diaspora. We've strong ties with the UK. We'll take up such matters with great candour when required," he says.

# "We will monitor these developments very very closely. We will raise it when required and we will always champion the fight against racism and other forms of intolerance," says Jaishankar in Rajya Sabha.

# Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurates CGHS (Central Government Health Scheme) health camp in Parliament House Annexe.

# Lok Sabha Secretariat (Reference Division) organised a briefing session on 'The Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020' for MPs in the Parliament today.

# BJP MP Ashok Bajpai has given Zero hour Notice in the Rajya Sabha over the demand for inclusion of Awadhi language in the 8th schedule to the Constitution.

# BJP MP Harnath Singh Yadav has given Zero Hour Notice in the Rajya Sabha over the "epidemic proportion of cancer in the country."

# AAP MP Sanjay Singh has given Suspension of Business Notice in the Rajya Sabha under rule 267, over ongoing farmers' protest.

First Published:Mar 15, 2021 11:40 AM IST