Elaborate preparations have been made as the Monsoon Session of Parliament kicks off today amid the coronavirus pandemic. Several first-time measures have been put in place because of the pandemic, such as testing of MPs, staggered seating arrangements in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha and the use of both chambers and galleries to accommodate the members.

Arrangements for the seating of 257 Lok Sabha members while following social distancing norms have been made in the chamber of the Lower House itself, while 172 members will sit in the gallery. Similarly, 60 members will sit in the Rajya Sabha chamber and 51 in the gallery. Everyone, including the MPs, underwent RT-PCR test for COVID-19 ahead of the session.

The government has listed 23 new bills, including 11 which seek to replace ordinances, for introduction in the session. One of the ordinances the government plans to pass as a bill during the 18-day-long session relates to providing preventive measures against violence on heathcare personnel. The ordinance makes acts of violence and harassment against healthcare personnel deployed in combating COVID-19 a non-bailable offence with maximum punishment of seven years imprisonment and Rs 5 lakh fine.

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Several senior lawmakers are likely to give the monsoon session of Parliament a miss. While some of them are doing it to avoid exposure to the COVID-19 virus, a few others will miss the session on account of ill health.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah was on Sunday admitted to AIIMS in New Delhi for a complete medical check. Shah, who recently recovered from COVID-19, is expected to spend 1-2 days in AIIMS, the hospital said in a statement.

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Congress president Sonia Gandhi will be travelling outside the country for a medical check-up which could not be held earlier due to the restrictions imposed amid the pandemic. Sonia will be accompanied by her son and party leader Rahul Gandhi, announced party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.