Centre pushes through key reforms in insurance and coal by ordinance in Rajya Sabha

New Delhi: The Narendra Modi government used the ordinance route on Wednesday to push through key reforms in insurance and coal which were stuck in the Rajya Sabha. Finance minister Arun Jaitley said the “country cannot wait” even if one House of Parliament “waits indefinitely”.

The Cabinet also approved an ordinance to regularise e-rickshaws. It allowed 100 per cent FDI under automatic route in medical devices to encourage manufacturing of equipment, including diagnostic kits and other devices.

This move comes a day after the Winter Session ended, after a series of disruptions by the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, where the NDA is short of a majority. "The (insurance) ordinance demonstrates the firm commitment and determination of the government to reforms.

It also announces to the rest of the world, including investors, that this country can no longer wait even if one of the Houses waits indefinitely to take up its own agenda," Mr Jaitley said after the Cabinet meeting.

The ordinance on insurance hikes FDI in the sector to 49 per cent from 26 per cent.