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Parliament’s Monsoon Session opens with the Opposition demanding discussions on the alleged NEET paper leak and Ram Mandir donation row as the Govt prioritises key legislation.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament begins with key Bills on the government’s agenda and the Opposition expected to raise the alleged NEET paper leak and Ram Mandir donation controversy. (IMAGE: PTI)
Parliament’s Monsoon Session begins on Monday with the government and the Opposition headed for an immediate face-off over priorities.
While the Opposition is set to press for discussions on the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and the Ayodhya Ram Mandir donation row (dubbed “chanda chori” by its leaders) the government is expected to focus on pushing its legislative agenda, including the FCRA Amendment Bill and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill.
The session, scheduled to run till August 13, comes at a politically significant moment. The NDA is attempting to consolidate numbers in Parliament following recent defections from opposition parties, while the INDIA bloc enters the session amid visible cracks among several regional allies.
What are the key political flashpoints?
At the customary all-party meeting on Sunday, Opposition leaders sought an immediate discussion on the alleged NEET-UG paper leak and the Ram Mandir donation controversy. Government representatives, however, indicated that legislative business would remain the priority.
The Opposition is expected to target the government over:
- Alleged NEET-UG paper leak
- Alleged irregularities in Ram Mandir donations
- Institutional capture and political defections
- Price rise
- Foreign policy issues
- Ethanol blending policy
The government, meanwhile, is expected to defend its handling of the NEET controversy, maintain that the Ayodhya issue falls within the state’s domain and press ahead with key legislation during the session.
Bills likely to be introduced
The Centre is expected to introduce five new Bills:
- Income-tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026
- Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026
- Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026
- Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026
- Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026
Bills to be taken up
The government will also seek consideration of pending legislation, including:
- Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026
- Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025
Some proposed measures also include replacing ordinances relating to increasing the strength of Supreme Court judges and granting tax exemptions to foreign institutional investors investing in government bonds.
What about the delimitation bill?
Although not part of the listed legislative business for the opening phase of the session, the proposed Constitution Amendment Bill on women’s reservation and delimitation is expected to remain one of the key measures to watch.
The earlier version of the Bill was defeated in the previous session. The proposed legislation seeks to reserve one-third of seats in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies for women by the 2029 general elections through a fresh delimitation exercise and an increase in the strength of the Lok Sabha.
While the Congress has sought wider consultations before any fresh attempt, some opposition parties have indicated they could support the proposal if adequate safeguards for states are incorporated. Since a constitutional amendment requires a two-thirds majority of members present and voting in both Houses, the government’s floor strength and support from smaller parties will be closely watched if the Bill is brought.
Numbers game in Parliament
Another closely watched development will be the Speaker’s decision on petitions relating to rebel MPs from the Trinamool Congress and Shiv Sena (UBT), rulings that could further alter parliamentary arithmetic in favour of the NDA.
The Monsoon Session of Parliament, running from July 20 to August 13, is set to prioritize key legislation, including the FCRA Amendment Bill and the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill.
About the Author
Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has c…Read More
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