New Delhi, India – The Monsoon Session of Parliament began today, July 20, 2026, and is scheduled to run until August 13. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju indicated that the government's primary focus will be on the passage of several crucial bills, despite expectations of significant disruptions from the Opposition.
Key Legislation on the Agenda
The government has listed several important bills for consideration and potential passage during this session. These include:
- The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026
- The Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026
- The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026
- The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026
- The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026
- The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026
- The Vikshit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill
The Lok Sabha's Business Advisory Committee has already allocated four hours for debate on the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill and three hours for the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill. Speaker Om Birla has urged all political parties to cooperate for a smooth and productive session, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expected to make opening remarks stressing orderly functioning.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is slated to introduce the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill in the Rajya Sabha on Monday. This bill proposes new penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for actions insulting the national song. While a bill on delimitation is not yet officially listed, it may be introduced later in the session.
Contentious Issues and Opposition Stance
The Opposition is gearing up to raise several high-profile and contentious issues, promising a session marked by intense political confrontation. Among the key topics expected to be debated are:
- The alleged theft of donations at the Ram temple in Ayodhya.
- The widespread NEET-UG paper leak controversy, which has sparked nationwide protests.
- Disputes surrounding the government's ethanol blending policy.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has announced protests demanding the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET paper leak. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has also called for an all-party meeting to discuss the critical issues of delimitation and women's reservation.
A significant legislative push expected is the Constitution 131st Amendment Bill, 2026. This bill proposes reserving 33 percent of seats for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies by 2029, linked to a delimitation exercise that would increase the strength of the House. While BJP-led NDA strategists are actively working to secure the necessary two-thirds majority for its passage, the Congress and other Opposition parties plan to oppose the bill, although some regional parties may offer conditional support.
Parliamentary Dynamics and Challenges
Recent shifts in parliamentary alliances have strengthened the NDA's position, with 20 Trinamool Congress MPs and six Shiv Sena-UBT MPs reportedly joining the alliance. The Speaker has approved the merger of the six Shiv Sena-UBT MPs with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and allowed separate seating for the rebel Trinamool MPs. Despite these gains, the NDA still faces challenges in securing a two-thirds majority in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, which is crucial for passing constitutional amendments.