Rajya Sabha passes Industries (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015

New Delhi, Apr 29 (KNN) The Rajya Sabha, on Thursday, passed the Industries (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015, which seeks to transfer the control over industries producing potable alcohol from the central government to the state governments.

The Industries (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2015, amending the 1951 act, was passed by the lower house of the Parliament on December 10, 2015 after it was introduced by Commerce & Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The Bill will now be sent to the President for his assent.

The Bill envisages bringing industries engaged in manufacture of potable alcohol under the Exclusive control of States in all respect.

The 1951 act provides for development and regulation of certain industries including fermentation (which includes production of alcohol), and its first schedule includes all industries that are regulated under the act.

The bill amends the schedule to exclude production of alcohol for potable purposes from the ambit of the act.