{
  "type": "article",
  "title": "Government Set to Table a Dozen Key Bills in Parliament's Monsoon Session, New Law on Insulting the National Song Too",
  "summary": "As Parliament's monsoon session opens on 20 July, the government is lining up nearly a dozen bills including one making insults to Vande Mataram a punishable offence, alongside changes to income tax law, Supreme Court judge strength, birth and death registration, and the FCRA.",
  "content": "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.\n\nInsulting Vande Mataram Set To Become a Punishable Offence\nAccording 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.\n\nFCRA Bill Returns After Getting Stuck Over Kerala Elections\nThe 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.\n\nIncome Tax Law and Supreme Court Judge Strength Both Set To Change\nThe 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.\n\nStricter Rules Coming for Delayed Birth and Death Registration\nThe 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.\n\nMSME and Education Bills Also on the Agenda\nThe 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.\n\nHow Long Will the Session Run\nParliament'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.\n\nWhat this means for you\nThese bills could directly affect several groups of citizens in their everyday dealings.\n\n• For taxpayers: once passed, the Income-tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026 will replace the existing ordinance with a permanent law.\n• For those seeking birth or death certificates: delayed registrations will now have to meet stricter conditions.\n• For small business owners: the MSME Development (Amendment) Bill could make it easier to resolve delayed-payment disputes and enforce arbitral awards.\n• For litigants: raising the Supreme Court's judge strength from 33 to 37 could speed up the clearing of pending cases.\n\nQuestions & Answers\n\n1. When will Parliament's monsoon session run?\nThe session is likely to run from 20 July to 13 August.\n\n2. What will the new law on Vande Mataram change?\nThe Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 will make insulting the national song Vande Mataram or disrupting its singing a punishable offence.\n\n3. Why didn't the FCRA bill pass earlier?\nAlthough introduced in the budget session, it was not taken up amid objections from sections of society, particularly Christian charitable organisations, during the Kerala assembly elections.\n\n4. By how much will Supreme Court judge strength increase?\nThe proposal raises the number of judges from 33 to 37, a count that excludes the Chief Justice of India.\n\n5. What does the Income-tax (Amendment) Bill, 2026 do?\nIt will replace an existing ordinance.\n\n6. How will birth and death registration rules change?\nSection 13(3) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 will be amended to further tighten rules on delayed registration.\n\n7. What is the status of the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill?\nIt is currently with a Joint Parliamentary Committee, and consideration will begin only after its report is submitted.",
  "url": "https://trendkia.com/en/politics/manasuna-satra-se-pahale-sarakara-ka-bara-plana-vnde-mataram-ko-lekara-aega-naya-kanuna-darjana-bhara-bila-bhi-honge-pesha-8205",
  "category": "Politics",
  "publishedAt": "2026-07-16",
  "tags": [
    "Vande Mataram",
    "Monsoon Session",
    "Income Tax Bill",
    "Supreme Court Judges",
    "FCRA Bill",
    "Birth Death Registration",
    "MSME Bill",
    "Parliament Session"
  ],
  "language": "en",
  "site": "TrendKia"
}