Archive · 23 Aug 2026
More Bills Are Passing in Their Introduction Session
Parliament introduces bills when it proposes new laws.
A bill is passed in the same session when both Houses approve it before that session ends.
In the 18th Lok Sabha, 34 of 64 bills followed this pattern.
That means 53% of the bills were passed quickly.
The share was 33% in the 16th Lok Sabha and about 62% in the 17th.
The trend became stronger during 2025 and the 2026 Monsoon Session.
Eleven of the 12 bills introduced in that session were passed.
PRS says bills passed very quickly may give lawmakers and the public less time to study and discuss them.
PRS data shows 34 of 64 bills introduced in the 18th Lok Sabha passed in the same session.
The 53% share compares with 33% in the 16th Lok Sabha and about 62% in the 17th.
The trend accelerated from 2025, reaching 11 of 12 bills in the 2026 Monsoon Session.
Six of the 11 bills passed in that Monsoon Session were not in the government’s original legislative agenda.
PRS warned that rapid passage can limit MPs’ scrutiny and stakeholder consultations; seven bills passed in five minutes or less.
- Who
- The two Houses of Parliament, the government, MPs, and PRS Legislative Research are involved.
- What
- An increasing proportion of introduced bills is being passed by both Houses during the same session.
- When
- The analysis covers the 16th, 17th, and 18th Lok Sabhas, with the latest acceleration occurring in 2025 and the 2026 Monsoon Session.
- Where
- Parliament in New Delhi.
- Why
- The trend reflects bills being introduced and passed within the same session, although PRS raised concerns about limited scrutiny and consultation.
Faster Legislative Passage
Greater Legislative Scrutiny
Passing bills in one session
Faster Legislative Passage
Supporters of rapid passage can point to the increasing number of bills completed by both Houses within the session in which they were introduced.
Greater Legislative Scrutiny
PRS cautions that a short gap between introduction and passage gives MPs less time to examine legislation and reduces opportunities for stakeholder consultation.
Length of debate
Faster Legislative Passage
Bills can be approved efficiently when Parliament completes the required passage through both Houses during a session.
Greater Legislative Scrutiny
PRS reported that seven of the 11 bills passed in the 2026 Monsoon Session took five minutes or less, while nine had no speaking MP other than the minister piloting them.
Government legislative agenda
Faster Legislative Passage
The government’s legislative programme can change during a session, and six of the 11 bills passed in the 2026 Monsoon Session were not included in its original agenda.
Greater Legislative Scrutiny
The change may limit advance notice for parliamentary consideration; two bills listed for consideration and passage were not passed, with one still before a committee and the other referred to a Joint Committee.
- 18th Lok Sabha
- 34 of 64 bills, or 53%, were passed in their introduction session.
- 16th Lok Sabha
- 63 of 189 bills, or 33%, were passed in their introduction session.
- 17th Lok Sabha
- 117 of 190 bills, or about 62%, were passed in their introduction session.
- 2026 Budget Session
- Five of 10 introduced bills passed in the same session.
- 2026 Monsoon Session
- Eleven of 12 introduced bills passed; the Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026 remained pending.
- Monsoon Session debate time
- Seven of the 11 bills passed in five minutes or less, and nine were cleared without an MP other than the sponsoring minister speaking.
- Session functioning
- During the 2026 Monsoon Session, Lok Sabha functioned for 15% of scheduled time and Rajya Sabha for 33%.
