Lok Sabha Election 2024: Key promises made by Congress in its manifesto “Nyay Patra”

The Congress on Friday released its poll manifesto,”Nyay Patra” with a broad theme of "justice". 

Congress' Nyay Patra focuses on 'Paanch Nyay' or five pillars of justice, including 'Yuva Nyay', 'Naari Nyay', 'Kisaan Nyay', 'Shramik Nyay' and 'Hissedari Nyay'.

The document was launched by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge in the presence of senior leaders, at the party headquarters in Delhi. 

Here’s a look at its key promises:

Scrapping of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and Angel Tax (Introduced in 2002, PMLA has been criticized for its wide-ranging powers and potential misuse, leading to concerns about civil liberties and the rights of the accused.)

Passage of a law to ensure fair compensation for farmers.

Conducting a nationwide Socio-Economic and Caste Census.

Passing a constitutional amendment to raise the 50% cap on reservations for SC, ST, and OBC.

Legal guarantee to Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers.

Guarantee of national minimum wage at ₹400 per day.

50% quota for women in central government jobs.

Strengthening the system of self-regulation to protect journalistic freedoms and uphold editorial independence.

Guarding against government interference by making amendments to the Press Council of India Act, 1978.

Strengthen the system of self-regulation, protect journalistic freedoms, uphold editorial independence, and guard against government interference by making amendments to the Press Council of India Act, 1978.

Passing a law to curb monopolies in the media, cross-ownership, and control of the media by business organizations.

Eliminate poverty by improving the fortunes of 23 crore people over the next decade.

Defend independent journalism by enacting laws to protect journalists from coercive action by the State.

Withdrawing the Broadcasting Services (Regulation) Bill, 2023; amending or deleting restrictive provisions of the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023, to eliminate backdoor censorship.

Amending the Cinematograph Act, 1952, to ensure that the Central Board of Film Certification grants graded certificates per transparent and reasonable criteria.

Amending the Representation of the People Act, 1951, to ensure that political parties disclose their sources of funding.

Implementing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in letter and spirit.

Increasing the public investment in education to 6% of GDP by 2029-30.

Ensuring universal access to quality healthcare through the Ayushman Bharat scheme.

Providing affordable housing to all by 2030.

Ensuring 100% electrification of all households by 2024.

Promoting the use of renewable energy sources to achieve 50% of the country's energy needs by 2030.

Restore status quo on the country's borders with China and ensure areas where both armies patrolled in the past are again accessible to Indian soldiers.

These promises are aimed at addressing various issues related to the economy, social justice, media freedom, education, healthcare, housing, and energy.

"Whatever has been promised in Manifesto will be strictly implemented. Before making promises in the Manifesto, in-depth deliberation has been made to ensure that these promises are implementable," Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said after the release of Nyay Patra.

Jawaharlal Nehru's first manifesto, 'What Congress stands for' was deemed to be with no exaggerated claims, no ambitious plans, a realistic view, Kharge said. 

'Farmers, women, poor and marginalised will be given a boost. We will open all the doors for the poor,' Kharge added. We had brought RTI, land protection, forest protection laws, he added.