Archive · 26 Dec 2025
Parliament's Decline into Rubber Stamp Culture
Shashi Tharoor, a Member of Parliament, is worried about how the Indian Parliament is working these days.
He says that the government is passing important laws very quickly without enough discussion or input from other politicians or experts.
This includes laws about insurance, nuclear energy, and a program that helps people find work.
He thinks this is bad for democracy because it means the government is not listening to different opinions or considering all the possible problems with these laws.
He also points out that in the past, more laws were carefully examined by committees, but now that hardly happens.
He warns that if the government keeps doing this, people might protest because they feel their voices are not being heard.
The Indian Parliament is passing important bills quickly without adequate debate or committee scrutiny.
Notable bills passed include the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Insurance Amendment), SHANTI (Nuclear Energy), and Viksit Bharat-G RAM G (MGNREGA successor).
In 2024-2025, 8 out of 10 introduced bills were passed without committee referrals.
Committee referrals have dropped from 71% in the 15th Lok Sabha to 16% in the 17th Lok Sabha.
The government's approach risks turning Parliament into a rubber stamp for executive decisions, potentially leading to protests and a breakdown of democratic principles.
- Who
- Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament for Thiruvananthapuram, Lok Sabha and Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs
- What
- Criticism of the Indian Parliament's decline into a rubber stamp culture, with a focus on the lack of debate, dissent, and deliberation
- When
- During the Winter Session of Parliament in 2024-2025
- Where
- New Delhi, India
- Why
- To highlight the government's preference for legislative majority over parliamentary consultation, leading to a potential descent into executive autocracy
- Bills Passed Without Committee Scrutiny
- 8 out of 10 in 2024-2025
- Committee Referrals in 15th Lok Sabha
- 71%
- Committee Referrals in 17th Lok Sabha
- 16%
- Bills Passed with Less Than 60 Minutes of Discussion
- 35%
- Notable Bills Passed
- Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Insurance Amendment), SHANTI (Nuclear Energy), Viksit Bharat-G RAM G (MGNREGA successor)
- Author
- Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament for Thiruvananthapuram, Lok Sabha and Chairman, Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs