As the Monsoon session of Parliament is all set to begin on July 21, an intense showdown is expected between the government and the opposition. While the government has lined up a list of key bills for introduction and passage, opposition parties are gearing up to corner the treasury benches on a range of contentious issues.
The opposition is expected to demand discussions on the recent Air India crash and the preliminary probe that appears to attribute blame to the two deceased pilots, raising concerns over accountability and transparency. Additionally, the opposition is likely to question the government on the timing and circumstances surrounding US President Donald Trump’s declaration of India’s ceasefire with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, which was announced even before any official Indian confirmation.
This decision was taken in the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) strategy meeting held on Tuesday evening. The meeting was presided over by CPP chairperson Sonia Gandhi with the Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi in attendance.
After the meeting, Deputy Leader in Rajya Sabha Pramod Tiwari said that another meeting of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc partners would be held before the Session to coordinate strategies and raise issues collectively in both Houses of Parliament
At the top of the agenda is the Income-tax Bill, 2025, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha on February 13 this year and referred to a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) led by BJP MP Baijayant “Jay” Panda. The JPC is scheduled to adopt the draft report on Wednesday, after which the amended bill will be sent to the union cabinet for approval and is expected to be brought to Parliament for passage during this session.
Among the other bills listed for consideration is the Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aimed at aligning the state GST law with the central legislation. Another key bill is the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025, which seeks to promote ease of doing business and improve regulatory compliance.
In the education sector, the Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025, proposes to bring IIM Guwahati under the formal fold of the IIM Act, giving it statutory recognition. Tax reforms are also on the cards through the Taxation Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which introduces changes to streamline current tax laws.
The government is also focusing on environmental and scientific resource conservation. The Geoheritage Sites and Geo-relics (Preservation and Maintenance) Bill, 2025, aims to protect geologically important sites, while the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025, seeks to regulate the scientific exploration of deep-seated and critical minerals.
In the sports sector, the National Sports Governance Bill, 2025, proposes ethical and governance reforms to improve accountability in sports bodies. Just last week, the government declared its new sports policy.
The National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aligns India’s anti-doping regulations with global standards set by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and ensures the institutional independence of the National Anti-Doping Appeal Panel.
Under other business, the government has listed a resolution for the extension of President’s Rule in Manipur, originally imposed on February 13, 2025. As per constitutional provisions under Article 356(1), Parliament’s approval is required every six months, and President’s Rule cannot be extended beyond three years.
( With agency inputs)
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