• The Monsoon Session of Parliament, which commenced on July 21 was adjourned sine die on  August 21. 

• The Session provided 21 sittings spreading over 32 days.

• Both the Houses witnessed continuous disruptions throughout the Session and as such, the productivity of Lok Sabha has been approximately 31 per cent and that of Rajya Sabha approximately 39 per cent. 

• During the Session, 14 Bills were introduced in Lok Sabha. As many as 12 Bills were passed by Lok Sabha and 15 Bills were passed by Rajya Sabha and a total of 15 Bills were passed by both the Houses of Parliament. One Bill was withdrawn in Lok Sabha.

• In Lok Sabha, discussions could happen for only 37 Hours out of the total available 120 hours during this Session and in Rajya Sabha, discussions took place for 41 hours.

• A statutory resolution seeking approval for extension of President’s Rule in Manipur for a further period of six months with effect from August 13 under Article 356(4) of the Constitution was adopted in the Lok Sabha on July 30 and in the Rajya Sabha on August 5.

Income Tax Bill

• In Budget Session in July 2024, the government announced that a time bound comprehensive review of the Income Tax Act, 1961 would be undertaken to make the Act concise, lucid, easy to read and understand. 

• Accordingly, the Income Tax Bill, 2025 was introduced in the Lok Sabha on February 13, 2025  and it was referred to the Select Committee for examination. 

• The report was presented in the Lok Sabha on July 21. Almost all of the recommendations of the Select Committee were accepted by the government. 

• In addition, suggestions were received from stakeholders about changes that would convey the proposed legal meaning more accurately. There were also corrections in the nature of drafting, alignment of phrases, consequential changes and cross-referencing. 

• Therefore, a decision was taken by the government to withdraw the Income Tax Bill, 2025 as reported by the Select Committee. 

• Consequently, Income Tax (No. 2) Bill, 2025 was introduced and passed by the Lok Sabha on August 11. It was passed by the Rajya Sabha on August 12.

Other major Bills

• Five Bills of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways were passed by both Houses of Parliament during the Session.

They are:

i) The Bills of Lading Bill, 2025

ii) The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2025

iii) The Coastal Shipping Bill, 2025

iv) The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025

v) The Indian Ports Bill, 2025.

• Two Bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha to facilitate ease of doing business and ease of living respectively were referred to a Select Committee of the Lok Sabha.

They are: 

i) The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025

ii) The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025.

• Three Bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha on August 20 and have been referred to a Joint Committee of both the Houses which seek to provide for removal of the Prime Minister or a Minister in the Union Council of Ministers and the Chief Minister or a minister in the Council of ministers of states and Union Territories facing serious criminal charges which are punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or more and are arrested and detained in custody for more than 30 days, so as to repose Constitutional morality and faith of the people entrusted on them.

They are:

i) The Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025

ii) The Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025

iii) The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2025. 

What are the Sessions of Parliament?

• A Session is the period of time between the meeting of a Parliament and its prorogation. During the course of a Session, either House may adjourn to such date as it pleases. 

Normally three Sessions are held in a year: 

(1) Budget Session -  January & February and March & April.

The Budget Session is divided into two parts. It has a break to enable department-related committees to consider and report on demands for grants of the various ministries.

(2) Monsoon Session - July, August and September.

(3) Winter Session -  November and December.

• The period between the prorogation of Parliament and its reassembly in a new Session is termed as a ‘recess’.

• ‘Adjournment’ is a short break of a few hours or days and then the House resumes its sitting. 

• If the adjournment is done without any time scale, it is known as ‘adjournment sine die’.