The government is preparing to introduce close to a dozen new and pending bills in the Lok Sabha during Parliament's monsoon session, which begins on 20 July. The list includes a bill that would make insulting the national song Vande Mataram, or disrupting its singing, a punishable offence, along with major changes to income tax law, the strength of the Supreme Court, birth and death registration rules, and foreign funding regulations.
Insulting Vande Mataram Set To Become a Punishable Offence
According to a bulletin issued by the Lok Sabha Secretariat, the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 has been listed for introduction, consideration and passing in the same session. The bill will amend the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. Sources indicate the government wants to make insulting the national song Vande Mataram, or obstructing its singing, a criminal offence carrying a penalty, closing what officials see as a gap in the existing law.
FCRA Bill Returns After Getting Stuck Over Kerala Elections
The government has also listed the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, commonly called the FCRA bill, for consideration and passing. The bill was already introduced in the Lok Sabha during the budget session but was not taken up for discussion or passage at the time. It is believed the government held back because assembly elections were underway in Kerala, and sections of society, particularly Christian charitable organisations, had objected to the proposed changes.
Income Tax Law and Supreme Court Judge Strength Both Set To Change
The monsoon session will also see the Income-tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which will replace an existing ordinance. Separately, the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026 proposes raising the sanctioned strength of the Supreme Court from 33 judges to 37, a count that excludes the Chief Justice of India. A larger bench strength is expected to help the court clear pending cases faster.
Stricter Rules Coming for Delayed Birth and Death Registration
The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026 has also been listed for introduction, consideration and passing. It seeks to further tighten Section 13(3) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, which was already amended once in 2023. Once passed, anyone applying for delayed registration of a birth or death will have to meet stricter conditions than before.
MSME and Education Bills Also on the Agenda
The MSME Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026 is listed too, aimed at easing the ease of doing business, resolving delayed-payment disputes, enforcing arbitral awards more effectively, and strengthening the MSE Facilitation Council. Alongside it, the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025, introduced on 15 December 2025, currently sits with a Joint Parliamentary Committee. The JPC is expected to submit its report before the bill moves to consideration and passing.
How Long Will the Session Run
Parliament's monsoon session starts on 20 July and is likely to continue until 13 August. The government will look to push all these bills through in that window, though objections from the opposition and affected groups could still trigger heated debate on some of them before they clear the House.
