NE POLITICAL BUREAU
NEW DELHI, AUG 13
The Monsoon Session may have ended without a grand legislative crescendo, but it leaves behind a substantial legislative ledger—with 12 Bills passed by both Houses, a new anti-unfair-means regime for public examinations, and major measures spanning MSMEs, banking, tribunals, mining, national honour and Kerala’s official nomenclature.
- 19 sittings over 25 days see 12 Bills passed by both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha
- Public Examinations Amendment Bill gets Presidential assent to strengthen anti-unfair-means framework
- MSME, banking, tribunals, mining and national honour legislation among key measures cleared
- Lok Sabha productivity at approximately 19%; Rajya Sabha records around 39%
The Monsoon Session of Parliament 2026, which commenced on July 20, was adjourned sine die on Thursday, August 13, after 19 sittings spread over 25 days. During the session, 11 Bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha and two in the Rajya Sabha, while 12 Bills were passed by each House, with 12 Bills ultimately cleared by both Houses.
Among the session’s significant legislative outcomes was the passage of the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, aimed at strengthening the integrity and credibility of public examinations.
The legislation provides for speedy investigation and time-bound trials, empowers State Governments and Union Territory Administrations to designate Special Fast Track Courts and appoint Special Public Prosecutors, and mandates completion of investigations within two months and trials within three months.
It also enables the Centre to constitute Special Task Forces where necessary, enhances penalties for offences and provides for a time-bound appellate mechanism before a Division Bench of the High Court. The Bill was passed by both Houses and has received the President’s assent.
12 Bills, a wide legislative sweep
The session’s legislative haul covered an unusually broad spectrum.
The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 seeks to bring Vande Mataram, honoured as the National Song, within the ambit of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, including provisions against intentionally preventing its singing or disrupting an assembly engaged in singing it.
The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 seeks to tighten the mechanism for delayed registration, requiring Executive Magistrate approval for registrations after one year and up to two years, and Judicial Magistrate First Class approval thereafter.
The MSME Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026 provides for a national digital platform for free and voluntary registration of MSMEs, while seeking to improve access to finance, speed up adjudication of delayed-payment disputes and promote ease of doing business.
Banking, tribunals and mining get major legislative push
The Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill, 2026 seeks to make the legal framework technology-neutral by recognising physical, electronic, digital, virtual and cloud-based banking records. It also standardises certificates and recognises manual, digital and electronic authentication.
The Tribunals Reforms Bill, 2026 seeks to improve efficiency, independence, transparency and uniformity in the qualifications, appointment and service conditions of tribunal Chairpersons and Members, besides proposing a National Tribunals Commission.
The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 seeks greater certainty, stability and predictability in the fiscal regime for the mineral sector, with the stated objective of supporting national economic growth and the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
Another notable measure was the Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, seeking to amend the First Schedule to the Constitution to change the State’s name from “Kerala” to “Keralam” under Article 3.
Ordinances replaced, FCRA Bill sent to JPC
Two Bills replacing and encompassing provisions of Ordinances promulgated before the session—the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Ordinance, 2026 and the Income-Tax (Amendment) Ordinance, 2026—were considered and passed by both Houses.
The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, meanwhile, was referred to a Joint Committee of both Houses for examination and report.
The session also dealt with Demands for Excess Grants for 2022-23, with the related Appropriation Bill passed by the Lok Sabha on August 4 and returned by the Rajya Sabha on August 6.
Yet the session’s legislative productivity came against a relatively low utilisation of available parliamentary time: Lok Sabha productivity was approximately 19%, while Rajya Sabha productivity stood at around 39%.
As the Houses adjourned sine die, the Monsoon Session thus closed with a mixed ledger—a dozen Bills across both Houses, several consequential legislative changes and a sharp reminder that parliamentary output is measured not only by what gets passed, but also by how effectively the House time available is used.
