The Monsoon Session of Parliament commenced on Monday, July 20, with the Lok Sabha scheduled to introduce The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, besides taking up obituary references, Question Hour, papers to be laid on the Table, and other listed business. As per the Lok Sabha's List of Business, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal will move for leave to introduce the Bill, which seeks to further amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, to raise the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from the present 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India. The government has listed five new Bills for introduction during the Monsoon Session, with the most significant inclusion being a Bill to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which seeks to make any insult or obstruction to the singing of the National Song, Vande Mataram, a punishable offence. The Monsoon Session will continue until August 13.
Opposition during this Monsoon Session is likely to raise several issues, including the Ayodhya Ram Temple donation embezzlement case and the NEET-UG paper leak. As reported by Business Standard, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh has already moved a Suspension of Business notice in the Rajya Sabha under Rule 267 to discuss the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak. Similarly, Congress MP Randeep Singh Surjewala has submitted a notice for an adjournment motion under Rule 267, seeking a discussion on the 'theft of offerings at the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya'. The Congress has announced its strong opposition to Constitution amendment bills related to delimitation and removal of ministers and chief ministers, if taken up during the upcoming Parliament session. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh stated that the party is in touch with all Opposition parties, including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the Aam Aadmi Party and others, who had voted together to defeat the Constitution amendment Bill related to delimitation. The BJP on Thursday rejected the Congress' allegation that it is 'splitting' parties to secure a two-thirds majority in Parliament** for the passage of the constitutional amendment bill on delimitation**.
The tentative list does not include a Constitution amendment Bill to implement 33 per cent women's reservation in the Lok Sabha and state Assemblies by 2029, along with the accompanying delimitation Bill to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats. As reported by Business Standard, the 131st Constitution Amendment Bill was defeated in the Lok Sabha during the extended Budget Session on April 17. However, Bharatiya Janata Party sources indicated the government would introduce a fresh Bill on the issue and has reached out to parties that had opposed the earlier legislation. The government may include a provision to increase the number of Lok Sabha seats for all states by 50 per cent to address concerns raised by southern states over delimitation. The 130th Constitutional Amendment Bill, which seeks the automatic removal from public office of any person, including the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers, who has been jailed for 30 days, is in the final stages of deliberation before a Joint Parliamentary Committee headed by BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi.
The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill seeks to align the MSME Development Act, 2006, with the changing landscape to enhance ease of doing business, strengthen the mechanism for addressing delayed payments, and provide for enforcement of arbitral awards for MSEs. According to Business Standard, the Income-tax (Amendment) Bill will replace the ordinance promulgated last month to exempt foreign investors from income tax on interest earnings and capital gains from investments in G-secs. This measure aims to attract foreign capital to ease pressure on the depreciating rupee due to the West Asia crisis. The Income-tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026 will replace the Income Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026, and is listed for introduction, consideration and passing in both Houses of Parliament. The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026 is also listed for introduction, consideration and passing in both Houses of Parliament.
The government has included the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 in its legislative agenda, which seeks to amend the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, to raise the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from the present 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice of India. This change is aimed at helping the court manage its caseload more effectively. The bill is intended to replace an existing ordinance and aims to deepen India's sovereign debt market, attract stable global capital inflows and enhance liquidity, a move the government says is necessary given a global macroeconomic environment marked by geopolitical volatility, sharp increases in crude oil prices and disruptions to global supply chains. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to introduce a Bill in the Rajya Sabha on Monday to amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, with the proposed legislation seeking to make any obstruction or insult to the national song Vande Mataram a criminal offence. The Bill is listed for introduction on the first day of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, according to the Rajya Sabha's List of Business.
