Monsoon Session 2025 Opens With Uproar: Pahalgam Attack, Bihar Voter Row Dominate Parliament’s Stormy Start

Key Points

• Session began with fierce opposition demands for answers on the Pahalgam terror attack and Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Bihar’s electoral rolls
• Government’s legislative priorities include key bills on GST, Mines, Sports, and a landmark new Income Tax Bill
• Select Committee report on the Income Tax Bill, 2025, tabled in Lok Sabha, setting stage for sweeping tax reforms
• All-party meeting convened to ensure productive debate; Minister Kiren Rijiju pledges open discussions on national issues, including Operation Sindoor
• Session scheduled from July 21 to August 21, 2025, across 21 sittings; adjournment planned for Independence Day celebrations

New Delhi: The Monsoon Session of Parliament for 2025 began on July 21 with both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha witnessing immediate protests and heated exchanges. The opposition, spearheaded by Congress and INDIA bloc allies, demanded urgent discussion on the recent Pahalgam terror attack which claimed 26 lives, mainly tourists and the government’s subsequent Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory airstrikes in Pakistan.

Additionally, opposition parties pressed for answers on the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter lists in Bihar, questioning its timing and transparency ahead of key state polls. Government officials rejected allegations of political interference, insisting the revision is routine and mandated by electoral law.

Legislative Agenda: Key Reform Bills on the Table

Despite opposition tumult, the government outlined an ambitious legislative agenda:

• Manipur GST (Amendment) Bill, 2025: Updates state GST laws in line with the central regime.
• Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025: Aims for a modern mineral sector, including reforms for critical minerals.
• National Sports Governance Bill, 2025 & National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025: Targets improved transparency and global alignment in Indian sports.
• Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025: Focuses on decriminalizing minor business infractions, streamlining the regulatory environment.
• Geoheritage Sites and Geo-relics (Preservation and Maintenance) Bill, 2025: For conservation of India’s geological treasures.
• Income Tax Bill, 2025: The centerpiece of fiscal reform, replacing the nearly six-decade-old Income Tax Act, 1961.

Income Tax Bill, 2025: Major Reforms on the Horizon

The Parliamentary Select Committee, led by Baijayant Panda, tabled its detailed report on the new Income Tax Bill in Lok Sabha on Day 1. The report recommends over 30 changes for clarity, fairness, and alignment with modern economic realities, including:

• Updates on definitions for capital assets, infrastructure, and MSMEs
• Relief for homeowners and clearer rules for business deductions
• Suggestions to foster innovation, support startups, and simplify compliance

If enacted, the new law is expected to take effect from April 1, 2026, and marks the most comprehensive overhaul of India’s direct tax system in decades.

Government Seeks Consensus in Pre-Session All-Party Meeting

On July 20, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju chaired an all-party meeting with over 54 leaders representing 40–51 political parties. He emphasized the government’s openness to discussing any issue of national importance in accordance with rules and parliamentary traditions. Rijiju called on all parties to ensure productive debate, referencing contentious topics, including the Pahalgam attack, voter roll revision, Operation Sindoor, and foreign policy debates about mediation claims around India-Pakistan tensions.

Session Calendar and What to Expect Next

The Monsoon Session will run from July 21 to August 21, with both Houses adjourning for Independence Day from August 12–17. The government aims to pass a slate of reformist bills but faces determined opposition on national security and electoral integrity issues.

Table: Key Bills and Priority Issues, Monsoon Session 2025

With Parliament off to a boisterous start, political watchers expect a high-voltage session marked by sharp debates, major economic legislation, and key decisions on India’s security and electoral systems.