Govt lines up key reform bills for Monsoon Session beginning July 20
New Delhi, July 20
The Centre has drawn up an extensive legislative agenda for the Monsoon Session of Parliament, beginning today, with proposals relating to foreign funding regulations, tax reforms, MSME development, and higher education among the key measures slated for consideration.
According to the tentative list of legislative business, the government will prioritise the passage of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, which was introduced earlier this year. The proposed legislation seeks to amend provisions governing the regulation of foreign contributions.
The government is also expected to take up the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, which aims to reform the higher education framework. The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha and later referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee for examination.
Among the new legislations proposed during the session is the Income-tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which is intended to replace an ordinance issued earlier to continue tax exemptions for foreign investors on income earned from specified government securities, with the objective of supporting capital inflows and strengthening the sovereign debt market.
The legislative agenda also includes the Supreme Court Amendment Bill, 2026, which proposes increasing the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India, to address the growing pendency of cases.
Another key proposal is the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which seeks to improve the ease of doing business for MSMEs by strengthening mechanisms for addressing delayed payments, enhancing the functioning of facilitation councils, and providing greater flexibility to states in implementing dispute resolution measures.
The government has also proposed amendments to the Registration of Births and Deaths Act to tighten provisions related to delayed registration, as well as changes to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament will commence today and continue until August 13, with the government expected to push both new and pending legislation as part of its reform agenda.
— ANI
Reader Comments
As an NRI watching from abroad, these reforms signal India is serious about ease of business. The Supreme Court judge increase is long overdue - backlog is crazy. But I hope the Foreign Contribution Regulation amendments don't create unnecessary hurdles for genuine NGOs working in healthcare and education.
The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill sounds promising for higher education reform. We really need to modernize our university system. But I hope the JPC examines it properly and it's not just rushed through - our students deserve quality reforms, not political grandstanding. Also, tightening birth/death registration is sensible for better governance.
👏 Good to see focus on MSMEs - our small businesses are the backbone of the economy. Delayed payments have killed many startups in my area. But I'm skeptical about the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act amendments - hope they don't misuse it to suppress legitimate criticism. Need balanced laws.
Impressive legislative slate from the Centre. The income tax amendment for foreign investors and sovereign debt market is smart - we need capital flows post-COVID recovery. But parliament should debate these bills thoroughly, not just vote along party lines. Accountability in lawmaking matters for India's democratic image.
Increasing Supreme Court judges is necessary but not sufficient - we need procedural reforms too. Cases drag for years, ordinary citizens can't afford justice. Also, the Foreign Contribution Regulation Bill must be transparent - NGOs doing genuine work shouldn't be harassed. Hope the opposition raises these points constructively in the session.
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