Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Parliament Passed 12 Monsoon Session Bills Amid Limited Debate
India's Parliament is a place where grown-ups make rules for the country.
This summer, it met for 19 days to make new laws.
During that time, it passed 12 new laws.
Some of these laws help stop cheating in big exams, help small shops get paid on time, and let digital bank records be used in court.
Parliament also decided to change the name of the state Kerala to Keralam.
But there was a lot of shouting and protesting in Parliament, so there was little time for talking about the laws.
In fact, most laws were passed with almost nobody speaking about them.
Only one law, about stopping cheating in exams, got a very long discussion.
Some planned laws, like one about foreign money, were not finished.
Running Parliament is also expensive — it costs about Rs 2.5 lakh every minute!
India's Parliament passed 12 Bills during the 19-day Monsoon Session (20 July–13 August), covering exams, small businesses, banking records, mining and Kerala's renaming to Keralam.
The Lok Sabha functioned for just 19% of its scheduled time and the Rajya Sabha 33%, with Question Hour usage at 1% and 12% respectively.
Nine of the 12 Bills were passed in the Lok Sabha without any MP other than the minister speaking; the Public Examinations Bill alone received nearly 11 hours of debate in the Lok Sabha.
The Kerala (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2026, introduced on 10 August, was passed by both Houses within three days, following a 2024 Kerala Assembly resolution and Union Cabinet approval.
The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 and the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025 remained pending at the session's end.
- Who
- India's Parliament — the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha — and its MPs, including the ministers who presented the Bills.
- What
- Passed 12 Bills during the Monsoon Session covering examinations, MSMEs, banking records, mining and the renaming of Kerala to Keralam, mostly with very limited debate amid disruptions.
- When
- Monsoon Session from 20 July to 13 August; the Kerala name-change Bill was introduced on 10 August.
- Where
- The two Houses of India's Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha).
- Why
- To update laws — curbing unfair means in public exams, addressing delayed MSME payments, recognising digital bank records as evidence in court and renaming Kerala following a 2024 Assembly resolution and Cabinet approval.
Scrutiny-focused view
Legislative progress view
Debate time in Parliament
Scrutiny-focused view
The Lok Sabha functioned for only 19% of its scheduled time and nine of 12 Bills were passed without any MP other than the minister speaking, raising questions about scrutiny of legislation.
Legislative progress view
Despite repeated disruptions, 12 Bills were passed by both Houses in the session, showing legislation can still move forward through Parliament.
Kerala to Keralam renaming
Scrutiny-focused view
The name-change Bill was passed within three days with just four minutes of Lok Sabha discussion, giving MPs little time to examine it.
Legislative progress view
The renaming follows a resolution passed by the Kerala Legislative Assembly in 2024 and approval by the Union Cabinet earlier this year.
- Session
- Monsoon Session, 20 July – 13 August (19 days)
- Bills passed
- 12 Bills passed by both Houses
- Lok Sabha functioning
- 19% of scheduled time
- Rajya Sabha functioning
- 33% of scheduled time
- Bills passed without debate
- 9 of 12 in Lok Sabha (no MP other than minister spoke)
- Public Examinations Bill debate
- Nearly 11 hours in Lok Sabha (48 MPs); over 6.5 hours in Rajya Sabha (35 MPs)
- Kerala name change
- Kerala renamed to Keralam; Bill introduced 10 August, passed within 3 days
- Parliament running cost (2021 estimate)
- Around Rs 2.5 lakh per minute