New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed four bills, amid opposition walkout, over discussion on ongoing incidents of violence in Manipur.

The Upper House passed the Inter-Services Organisations (Command, Control and Discipline) Bill, 2023 which seeks to empower Commander-in-Chief and Officer-in Command of Inter-Services Organisations (ISOs) with all disciplinary and administrative powers in respect of the personnel serving in or attached to such organisations.

Describing the need for the bill, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that it was necessary to strengthen the Armed Forces in view of the global security scenario, emphasising that only through better jointness and integration the military can move forward towards securing national interests.

He pointed out that today’s warfare is no longer conventional, but has become technology and network centric, which makes it even more important for the three Services to work with greater coordination to face future challenges faced by the country.

The Rajya Sabha also cleared the National Dental Commission Bill, 2023 and the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill, 2023. The bills seek to provide quality healthcare education in the country.

While the National Dental Commission Bill seeks to regulate dental education and profession, the National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Bill provides for regulation and maintenance of standards of education and services by nursing and midwifery professionals, assessment of institutions and maintenance of a National Register and State Registers.

Replying to the discussion on the bills, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the two bills seek to meet the present and future requirements in the health sector.

The Minister said that before 2014 there were 54,000 MBBS seats in the country which has now increased to 1,07,000. Further, he said that the number of medical colleges has increased to 704 from 350 earlier.

The Rajya Sabha also passed the Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill, 2023 which entrusts the management accountability of the IIMs with the President of India thus giving the Centre more powers.

All the bills have already been passed by the Lok Sabha and hence they would now head for President’s approval.