As the Monsoon Session of Parliament kicks off on July 21, the Central government is preparing to introduce eight new Bills across critical sectors, including taxation, mineral exploration, geoheritage conservation, and sports governance. The session is also expected to witness heated debates as the Opposition prepares to raise pressing foreign policy and domestic concerns.
Key Bills on the Agenda
The list of new Bills released by the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha secretariats on Monday includes:
Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill:
Aimed at promoting ease of doing business and enhancing ease of living, this Bill proposes to decriminalize minor offences and streamline regulatory compliance.
Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill:
Expected to revise provisions in existing tax laws to simplify processes and close loopholes.
Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill:
This Bill seeks to boost the scientific and sustainable mining of critical and deep-seated minerals, permit inclusion of contiguous mining areas, and expand the role of the National Mineral Exploration Trust.
Geoheritage Sites and Geo-relics (Preservation and Maintenance) Bill:
Designed to protect and conserve sites and relics of geological importance, this Bill will enable the declaration of such areas as national heritage.
National Sports Governance Bill:
Aims to establish robust governance standards for sports federations, institutional mechanisms for grievance redressal, and improved transparency and accountability in Indian sports.
National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill:
Proposes changes to strengthen India’s anti-doping regulations in line with international standards.
Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill:
Seeks to include IIM Guwahati in the Schedule of the IIM Act, giving it greater autonomy and formal recognition under the Act.
Pending Bills Also on the Table
Apart from the new legislation, Parliament will also consider several pending Bills from previous sessions, including bills related to maritime trade and infrastructure, Lading Bill, Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, Coastal Shipping Bill, Merchant Shipping Bill, and the Indian Ports Bill, which are essential for overhauling the maritime transport sector.
IBC Amendment Still Under Review
Interestingly, the list of new Bills does not include a proposed amendment to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) of 2016. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance is still examining the effectiveness of the IBC and its implementation. The committee has held three consultations with banks and is scheduled to meet the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on July 29 to gather further insights before drafting recommendations.
Income Tax Bill: Major Overhaul Proposed
Parliament is also expected to resume discussion on the new Income Tax Bill, which was introduced in the previous session and referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the new law is aimed at replacing the voluminous Income Tax Act of 1961, which has become unwieldy due to six decades of amendments.
Key proposals include:
Replacing the terms “financial year” (FY) and “assessment year” (AY) with a unified “tax year” concept, meaning tax will be paid in the same year income is earned.
Removing outdated sections such as those related to fringe benefit tax.
Making the law more understandable to the common taxpayer.
If passed, the new law will come into effect from April 1, 2026.
Opposition’s Strategic Push in Rajya Sabha
The Opposition, led by the INDIA bloc, is preparing to press the government on several high-stakes issues. These include:
A demand for a briefing on Operation Sindoor,
India’s current stance on foreign policy, especially with China,
Updates on the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement,
And former U.S. President Donald Trump’s controversial remarks about using trade policy to mediate between India and Pakistan.
Congress President and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, met with Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Tuesday to push for an inclusive and productive session.
‘Strategic, political, foreign policy, and socio-economic issues of public importance must be debated and discussed,’ Kharge posted on social media platform X after the meeting.
Extension of President’s Rule in Manipur
In a significant political move, the government will also seek Parliamentary approval for the extension of President’s Rule in Manipur, which continues to face unrest and instability.
Session Outlook
With a packed legislative agenda and mounting political pressure from the Opposition, the Monsoon Session is poised to be a critical juncture for policy-making and parliamentary discourse. As the nation watches closely, Parliament will navigate through economic reforms, governance issues, and geopolitical concerns in the coming weeks.