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Time of India
21-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Monsoon session: Income Tax bill, anti-doping law on agenda; full list of key bills
NEW DELHI: The Monsoon Session of Parliament is set to begin on Monday, after a break of over three and a half months. The government has lined up 15 bills, eight new and seven pending, for consideration in both Houses. The session is likely to focus on introducing and passing several key bills across various sectors, including finance, income tax , sports, education, mining, and shipping. The highlight will be the introduction of the Income-Tax Bill, 2025, which was first presented during the Budget session in February and later referred to a select committee chaired by BJP MP Baijayant Panda. The session will also mark the rollout of a new digital attendance system for Members of Parliament. Under this system, MPs will be required to register their presence using a digital device at their designated seats, a move aimed at boosting transparency and curbing misuse of allowances. This will be the first Parliament session since Operation Sindoor , launched in May in response to a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. According PRS Legislative Research , with several high-stakes bills lined up, the government is looking to push through major reforms and policy updates across sectors, including: New bills on the agenda Finance & Commerce Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025: To amend the Manipur Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, which aims to align the state GST law with the central legislation. Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025: Proposes changes to existing tax laws. Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025: Seeks to improve ease of doing business by reducing compliance burdens. Education Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025: Propose to add IIM Guwahati to the schedule of the Indian Institutes of Management Act, 2017 Culture Geoheritage Sites and Geo-relics (Preservation and Maintenance) Bill, 2025: Aims to preserve and promote sites of geological significance for research, education, and tourism. Mines Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025: Focuses on recovery of critical minerals, expanded mining leases, and strengthening the National Mineral Exploration Trust. Sports National Sports Governance Bill, 2025: To provide for the promotion of sports, sportspersons' welfare, and ethical practices in sports; to establish standards for the governance of sports federations; and to institute measures for the resolution of sports grievances and disputes National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025: Aims to bring the 2022 Anti-Doping Act in line with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code and global standards, and to ensure the National Anti-Doping Appeal Panel works independently. Pending bills up for discussion Finance Income Tax Bill, 2025: Seeks to simplify the Income Tax Act by replacing the 1961 Act. Retains most of its provisions, including tax rates and offences. Primarily seeks to simplify the language and remove redundant provisions 13 Feb 2025 In the Lok Sabha, the Select Committee is expected to present its report on the Income Tax Bill, 2025 today. Home Affairs Scheduled Tribes Representation in Goa Bill, 2024: Proposes to reserve seats for Scheduled Tribes in the Goa Legislative Assembly by readjusting assembly constituencies. Introduced in Lok Sabha on August 5, 2024; currently pending. Shipping and maritime Indian Ports Bill, 2025: Replaces the Indian Ports Act of 1908. Establishes new regulatory bodies including a Maritime State Development Council and State Maritime Boards. Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024: Updates rules around ship registration, maritime training, and seafarer welfare. Pending in Lok Sabha. Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024: Regulates domestic coastal shipping. Passed by Lok Sabha; pending in Rajya Sabha. Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024: Modernizes the 1925 Act dealing with sea transport of goods. Passed by Lok Sabha but it is pending in Rajya Sabha. Bills of Lading Bill, 2024: Seeks to replace the outdated Indian Bills of Lading Act, 1856, with an updated legal framework for issuing shipping documents that serve as proof of goods on board. While modernizing the language, it retains most of the original provisions. Introduced on August 9, 2024, and passed by the Lok Sabha on March 10, 2025; currently pending in the Rajya Sabha. The Monsoon Session of Parliament will continue until August 21, with a total of 21 sittings. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Indonesia: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Undo A break is scheduled from August 12 to 18 for Raksha Bandhan and Independence Day celebrations. The session is likely to see heated debates between the ruling BJP and the opposition, including the Congress-led INDIA bloc. The opposition is expected to question the government on Operation Sindoor and US President Donald Trump's claim that "he helped prevent a nuclear conflict" between India and Pakistan.
Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Parliament needs to function better. That begins with supporting MPs
Written by Ravindra Garimella and Rajas Kolhatkar We expect our elected representatives to govern wisely, represent their constituents faithfully, and scrutinise laws that affect millions. Parliament is meant to be more than a platform for speeches. It should be a space where serious questions are asked and real answers are found. But how can lawmakers do that without the tools to prepare? Members of Parliament are expected to reflect the concerns of their constituents, scrutinise legislation, and hold the government accountable. At the same time, they must navigate the demands of party politics, constituency responsibilities, and an increasingly complex policy landscape. Yet, what they are rarely given is structured and institutional research support. This is not just an operational gap. It reflects the larger question of how well we equip Parliament to perform its core functions. If it is to serve as a serious forum for debate, law-making, and oversight, MPs must be able to access high-quality, non-partisan research — available to all members, not just a few. Being an MP is more demanding than it appears from the outside. A typical day during a Session includes floor speeches, committee meetings, party strategy briefings and meetings with constituents or interest groups. In the time between sessions, MPs return to their constituencies, where the range of expectations only expands. Alongside all this, they must engage with legislation that is increasingly technical and fast-moving. Bills on data protection, artificial intelligence, defence procurement or climate policy require not only policy literacy but also specialised understanding and real-time analysis. Most legislators take their responsibilities seriously. However many operate without the kind of support that would allow them to engage with the full complexity of their role. Some rely on interns, others on party researchers or external experts. These arrangements vary widely in quality and availability. They are also unequally distributed — senior MPs or those backed by party infrastructure fare better, while first-time legislators, particularly those from regional or smaller parties, are often left navigating Parliament on their own. When that happens, debates become symbolic rather than substantive. Without preparation, MPs fall back on generalities. Without scrutiny, bills can pass unread or unchallenged. And when legislation is passed without genuine deliberation, Parliament begins to lose its ability to represent, reason, or restrain. One initiative that has helped bridge this gap is the Legislative Assistants to Members of Parliament (LAMP) Fellowship, run by PRS Legislative Research. Each year, around 50 young professionals are placed with MPs for the duration of a session year. These Fellows assist with preparing questions, drafting speeches, analysing legislation and researching policy issues. The impact is visible. With even a single trained researcher, MPs are better able to connect constituency concerns with national policy, participate more meaningfully in debates, and intervene with precision. Parliament becomes more focused, better informed, and more grounded in evidence. But LAMP, for all its success, is no substitute for institutional reform. It reaches fewer than 10 per cent of MPs. It is externally funded, temporary, and operates outside the formal structure of Parliament. The model works. The scale does not. Other democracies have already taken this step. In the US, the Congressional Research Service provides confidential, non-partisan policy analysis to all members of Congress. In the UK, the House of Commons Library produces legislative summaries, issue briefings, and bespoke research for MPs. These services are embedded within the legislature, professionally staffed, and publicly funded. They help legislators ask better questions and draft stronger laws. In India, there have been meaningful steps in this direction. The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Secretariats maintain research divisions, and the Parliament Library remains one of the largest in the world. In recent years, Parliamentary Research and Information Support for Members of Parliament (PRISM) has offered round-the-clock research support during sessions. MPs can call a hotline, request information, or attend bill briefings. These are positive developments and reflect a growing recognition of the need for research support. However, they remain limited and are not designed to provide continuous, personalised, or domain-specific inputs that legislators increasingly require. This should be housed within the Parliamentary Secretariat, professionally staffed, and accessible to all MPs. Its primary focus should be on embedding research associates directly with MPs and parliamentary committees. These associates could provide tailored support — helping legislators prepare for debates, analyse bills, draft questions, and translate technical material into actionable insights. A smaller central team could complement this work by producing thematic briefs and offering specialised inputs on complex policy issues. Such a system would do more than improve the quality of debate. It would reduce Parliament's reliance on executive-provided information and strengthen its capacity for oversight. It would also create a viable public service pathway for young professionals with expertise in law, economics, science, or public administration — individuals who are eager to serve but find few institutional routes into Parliament. Any such reform must be designed with care. The service should be accountable to Parliament, not the executive. Recruitment must be competitive, transparent, and based on expertise. Access should be equal across MPs, regardless of party or seniority. The goal is not to influence outcomes but to equip lawmakers with the information they need to legislate with confidence. Some may raise concerns about cost or redundancy. But the real cost lies in continuing with the status quo. A parliament that cannot interrogate policy is unlikely to shape effective legislation. It cannot provide meaningful oversight. And it cannot earn the public's trust. We already have the talent and models to learn from. What remains is the political will to build a system that supports our lawmakers with the seriousness their role and our democracy deserve. Parliament is meant to be where questions lead to answers and where ideas become action. To live up to that promise, we must begin by giving our elected representatives the tools they need to think clearly, speak credibly, and govern wisely. Ravindra Garimella is former Joint Secretary (Legislation), Lok Sabha Secretariat. Rajas Kolhatkar is a former LAMP Fellow
The Hindu
04-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
How healthy are India's State legislatures?
India is a union of states — a structure enshrined in the Constitution that gives States a central role in legislating critical areas like health, agriculture, and public order. But how well are India's State Assemblies functioning? A new report by PRS Legislative Research that examines how 31 State Assemblies performed in 2024 has found that States passed over 500 Bills, yet most Assemblies met for just 20 days and spent around 100 hours in session. Many laws were cleared on the very day they were introduced, and States issued 100 ordinances in total. What does this say about legislative scrutiny, accountability, and the democratic process at the state level? Guest: Niranjana S Menon, a Senior Analyst at PRS Legislative Research. Host: Nivedita V. Edited by Jude Francis Weston For more In Focus episodes:
Indian Express
03-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Top 10 Indian states and UTs with the highest debt-to-GDP ratios in FY 2025–26
Top Indian States/UTs by debt-to-GDP ratio FY 2025–26: India is currently the fastest-growing large economy in the world. Recently, it surpassed Japan to become the fourth-largest economy globally and is projected to overtake Germany within the next 2.5 to 3 years, according to NITI Aayog CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam. While the Indian economy is growing and thriving, the recent IMF and Fiscal Monitor debt-at-risk analysis revealed that the country's debt-to-GDP ratio is 80.4% globally. Indian central government, in a significant shift, has recently outlined a transition to using the debt-GDP ratio as the fiscal anchor from the 2026-27 financial year, as it aims for a decreasing debt-GDP ratio of 50±1 per cent by March 31, 2031. According to the report, Jammu and Kashmir leads the list with 51% debt-to-GDP, the highest among all states. It is followed by Arunachal Pradesh, a relatively small state economy, having an exceptionally high fiscal deficit (8.9%). Notably, the northeastern states of India—Nagaland, Mizoram, Sikkim, and Meghalaya—feature prominently in the list, showing structural fiscal imbalances driven by economic disparities, limited industrialisation, rugged terrain, and sparse population. On the contrary, Odisha tops the list with the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio (12.7%), reflecting strong fiscal discipline, good revenue mobilisation from mining and the growing manufacturing sector, and effective expenditure control. The largest states in terms of GDP—Maharashtra (18.4%), Gujarat (15.3%), Karnataka (24.9%) and Tamil Nadu (26.1%)—have maintained moderate debt levels with sustainable fiscal policies. Source: GDP and debt-to-GDP figures are based on 2025–26 budget estimates, sourced from PRS Legislative Research and compiled by Forbes India. Note: The debt-to-GDP ratio is a crucial economic metric for assessing a country or state's ability to manage its debt and overall economic health. High ratios could indicate long-term fiscal issues, constrain development investment, and raise concerns about debt sustainability. Methodology: The debt-to-GDP ratio of Indian states is derived by dividing the total outstanding debt of a state by its GDP and multiplying by 100 to get a percentage. Here is the formula: The debt-to-GDP ratio for states is calculated as (total state debt/state GDP) * 100. Cherry Gupta is an Assistant Manager - Content at The Indian Express. She is responsible for crafting compelling narratives, uncovering the latest news and developments, and driving engaging content based on data and trends to boost website traffic and audience engagement. One can connect with her on LinkedIn or by mail at ... Read More
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Business Standard
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
State legislatures are in a rush, spend little time in scrutinising Bills
A landmark Supreme Court judgment in April set a timeline for state Governors to decide on Bills sent to them by legislatures, mandating a response within specific timelines. Last week, President Droupadi Murmu, in a rare move, asked the court whether it can fix timelines for Governors and the President to clear state Bills under Article 201 of the Constitution. The court's judgment came amid concerns about Governors sitting on legislation and stalling state governments. But if Governors are being blamed for delaying Bills, most state legislatures are in a rush. Many of them have truncated debates, rushed Budget approvals and little scrutiny of critical financial allocations. Last year, almost three out of every four state legislatures wrapped up Budget and ministry expenditure discussions in just 10 days. As many as 46.4 per cent of states completed deliberations in two to five days, according to calculations by PRS Legislative Research and 'Business Standard'. As many as 35.7 per cent completed deliberations in six to 10 days. Only 7.2 per cent extended the process to 11-15 days, while 10.7 per cent went beyond 16 days. Kerala and Goa stood out for spending 18 days to discuss their Budgets, followed by Odisha (16), Gujarat (14), and Rajasthan (13). Six states, including Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Telangana, discussed and passed their Budgets in just two days. The rush is greater in reviewing ministry-wise expenditure — arguably one of the most vital aspects of Budget scrutiny. In 21 states, the time gap between the general Budget and ministry-specific discussions was just one day. Only two states took two to five days and three states more than five days. Compare that to Parliament, where the Budget session is split for three to four weeks to allow Parliamentary Standing Committees to examine the expenditure proposals of Ministries in detail. After a Bill is passed by a legislature, it is sent to the Governor, who can grant assent, return it for reconsideration, or reserve it for the President. The Constitution says that the Governor must act "as soon as possible" but delays are frequent and vary widely across states. According to the Annual Review of State Laws 2024 by PRS Legislative Research, 60 per cent of Bills passed by state legislatures in 2024 received gubernatorial assent within a month. As many 18 per cent took more than three months, including Bills still pending as of April 2025. While Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Mizoram, and Rajasthan ensured that all their Bills were cleared by Governors within a month, other states experienced significant lags. Himachal Pradesh had 72 per cent of its Bills delayed by more than three months, followed by Sikkim (56 per cent) and West Bengal (38 per cent). Tamil Nadu, where the Governor and the state government have clashed several times, saw 60 per cent of Bills receive assent within a month. Another 18 per cent took one to three months and 22 per cent were delayed by more than three months.
