MONSOON SESSION OF THE PARLIAMENT
Session Overview
- Start Date: 21 July 2025
- Duration: Till 21 August 2025 (21 sittings)
- Break: 12–18 August (Raksha Bandhan & Independence Day)
- Bills Scheduled: 15 total (8 new bills + 7 pending bills)
- Focus Areas: Finance, commerce, income tax, sports, education, mining, shipping
- New Initiative: Introduction of a digital attendance system for MPs to ensure transparency and curb misuse of allowances
- Context: First session after Operation Sindoor launched in May 2025, a counter-terrorism operation following terror attacks in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir
- Political Climate: Expected to witness heated debates between ruling BJP and opposition Congress-led INDIA bloc
NEW BILLS INTRODUCED
A. Finance & Commerce
- Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025
- Amendments to align the Manipur GST Act, 2017, with central GST law.
- Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025
- Proposed changes to existing tax laws to improve clarity and compliance.
- Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025
- Aims to enhance ease of doing business by reducing compliance requirements and easing regulatory burdens.
B. Education
- Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025
- To add IIM Guwahati officially to the schedule of the Indian Institutes of Management Act, 2017, thus granting it formal recognition as an IIM.
C. Culture
- Geoheritage Sites and Geo-relics (Preservation and Maintenance) Bill, 2025
- Seeks to protect, preserve, and promote sites of geological significance for scientific research, education, and tourism.
D. Mines
- Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025
- Focus on recovery of critical minerals.
- Provisions for expansion of mining leases.
- Strengthening of the National Mineral Exploration Trust to promote exploration activities.
E. Sports
- National Sports Governance Bill, 2025
- To promote sports and welfare of sportspersons.
- Set governance standards for sports federations.
- Establish mechanisms for resolving disputes and grievances in sports bodies.
- National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025
- Updates the 2022 Anti-Doping Act to align with World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code and international standards.
- Ensures independence of the National Anti-Doping Appeal Panel.
PENDING BILLS UP FOR DISCUSSION
A. Finance
- Income Tax Bill, 2025
- Intended to replace the Income Tax Act, 1961.
- Seeks to simplify language, remove redundant provisions while retaining existing tax rates and offence provisions.
- Introduced in Budget Session (Feb 2025) and referred to a Select Committee chaired by BJP MP Baijayant Panda.
- Select Committee report expected during this session.
B. Home Affairs
- Scheduled Tribes Representation in Goa Bill, 2024
- Proposes reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribes in Goa Legislative Assembly by readjusting assembly constituencies.
- Introduced on 5 August 2024; pending in Lok Sabha.
C. Shipping and Maritime
- Indian Ports Bill, 2025
- Replaces the Indian Ports Act, 1908.
- Creates new regulatory bodies such as Maritime State Development Council and State Maritime Boards.
- Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024
- Updates ship registration rules, maritime training, and seafarer welfare regulations.
- Pending in Lok Sabha.
- Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024
- Regulates domestic coastal shipping activities.
- Passed Lok Sabha; pending Rajya Sabha.
- Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024
- Modernizes the Sea Transport of Goods Act, 1925.
- Passed Lok Sabha; pending Rajya Sabha.
- Bills of Lading Bill, 2024
- Replaces Indian Bills of Lading Act, 1856.
- Updates legal framework for shipping documents used as proof of goods on board.
- Passed Lok Sabha on 10 March 2025; pending Rajya Sabha.
KEY INITIATIVES & DEVELOPMENT
- Digital Attendance System for MPs:
- MPs must register presence using digital devices at designated seats.
- Aims to increase transparency and accountability in parliamentary attendance and prevent misuse of attendance-linked allowances.
- Operation Sindoor:
- Launched in May 2025 after terror attacks in Pahalgam, J&K.
- Expected to feature prominently in parliamentary discussions related to national security.
- International Relations Debate:
- Possible discussions on US President Donald Trump’s claim that he “helped prevent a nuclear conflict” between India and Pakistan.
POLITICAL SCENARIO & EXPECTED DEBATES
- The Monsoon Session is likely to witness intense political debates between the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress-led INDIA bloc.
- Opposition is expected to raise questions on Operation Sindoor and government policies.
- Security issues, foreign policy, and governance reforms will dominate discussions.
CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS FOR SESSIONS
- Article 85(1): Summoning of Parliament
- The President summons each House of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha) to meet at a time and place deemed appropriate.
- Mandatory Condition: No more than six months should elapse between the last sitting of one session and the first sitting of the next session.
- Article 85(2): Powers of the President
- The President can prorogue (suspend) either House or both Houses of Parliament.
- The President has the authority to dissolve the Lok Sabha (House of the People).
TYPES OF SESSIONS
- Parliament usually meets three times a year; however, the Constitution does not fix the number of sessions or sitting days.
A. Budget Session
- Timing: February to March (longest session).
- Purpose:
- Begins with the President’s address.
- Presentation and discussion of the Union Budget in Lok Sabha.
- Parliamentary Committees review budget proposals during recess.
- Activities: Detailed examination, amendments, and approval of the government’s fiscal policy.
- Also includes other legislative business and debates.
B. Monsoon Session
- Timing: July to August (coincides with monsoon season).
- Purpose:
- Introduce and pass important legislation.
- MPs debate bills and discuss national issues.
- Government seeks support for its policies, including response to opposition concerns.
C. Winter Session
- Timing: November to December.
- Purpose:
- Review government policies and initiatives.
- Introduction and discussion of new bills.
- Examine government performance via questions, motions, and debates.
D. Special Session
- Not constitutionally defined but convened for urgent or landmark issues.
- Called outside regular sessions by the government.
- Examples:
- 1962: India-China War.
- 1971: India-Pakistan conflict discussions.
- Mentioned in Article 352 during Proclamation of Emergency as a “special sitting.”
SCHEDULING & COMPONENTS OF SESSIONS
- Scheduled by: Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA).
- Role of President: Summons MPs, provides official summons with tentative business and number of sittings.
- Components: Each session consists of multiple meetings with morning and afternoon sittings.
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