The Monsoon Session : Five Amendment Bills By Modi Govt.

The monsoon session of the Parliament is scheduled to begin on July 20, 2023 and will continue till August 11, 2023. The session is expected to witness heated debates and discussions on various issues of national and public interest. The Narendra Modi-led government plans to introduce 21 new Bills and take up seven Bills for consideration and passage during the session. Out of these, five Bills are likely to be taken up in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the Parliament. These are:

1. *The Cinematograph (Amendment) Bill, 2023*:

This Bill seeks to amend the Cinematograph Act of 1952, which regulates the certification and exhibition of films in India. The Bill proposes to introduce a provision to penalize film piracy and unauthorized duplication of films. It also empowers the Central Government to order recertification or revision of a film that has already been certified by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), if it violates any law or public order. The Bill aims to curb film piracy and protect the rights of filmmakers and producers.

2. *The Coastal Aquaculture Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023*:

This Bill seeks to amend the Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act of 2005, which establishes the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) to regulate coastal aquaculture activities in India. The Bill proposes to expand the scope and functions of the CAA to include inland aquaculture as well. It also empowers the CAA to issue licenses, permits, and certificates for aquaculture activities, impose fees and penalties, and conduct inspections and audits. The Bill aims to promote sustainable and responsible aquaculture development in India.

3. *The Forest (Conservation) Amendment Bill, 2023*:

This Bill seeks to amend the Forest (Conservation) Act of 1980, which restricts the diversion of forest land for non-forest purposes without the prior approval of the Central Government. The Bill proposes to exempt certain categories of projects from obtaining such approval, such as linear projects like roads, railways, pipelines, etc., strategic projects like defence and security-related infrastructure, renewable energy projects like solar and wind power plants, etc. The Bill also provides for compensatory afforestation and environmental safeguards for such projects. The Bill aims to balance forest conservation and development needs in India.

4. *The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2022*:

This Bill seeks to amend various laws related to taxation, commerce, industry, finance, etc., to improve the ease of doing business and ease of living in India. The Bill proposes to decriminalize around 180 clauses under over 40 Acts that deal with minor offences such as technical or procedural lapses, delays in filing returns or reports, etc. The Bill also provides for alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as mediation and conciliation for such offences. The Bill aims to reduce compliance burdens and simplify requirements for businesses and individuals in India.

5. *The Competition (Amendment) Bill, 2023*:

This Bill seeks to amend the Competition Act of 2002, which regulates anti-competitive practices and promotes fair competition in India. The Bill proposes to introduce several changes in the structure and functioning of the Competition Commission of India (CCI), the statutory body that enforces the Act. These include increasing the number of members from six to nine, creating a governing board for policy guidance and oversight, establishing a dedicated investigation wing for conducting inquiries, etc. The Bill also provides for new provisions such as settlement and commitment mechanisms, leniency regime for cartel cases, regulation of e-commerce platforms, etc. The Bill aims to strengthen the competition law framework and enhance consumer welfare in India.

These are some of the important Bills that are likely to be taken up by the Modi government in the monsoon session of the Lok Sabha. However, these Bills may face opposition from various parties and groups on various grounds such as constitutional validity, public interest, federalism, etc. Therefore, it remains to be seen how smoothly these Bills will be passed by the Parliament.

References:

¹: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/allparty-meeting-live-news-updates-today-18-july-2023-monsoon-session-101689719159436.html
²: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/parliament-monsoon-session-2023-details-explained-primer-lok-sabha-rajya-sabha/article67099241.ece
³: https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/parliament-monsoon-session-union-cabinet-clears-3-key-bills-iim-act-amendment-jan-vishwas-mines-and-minerals-pm-modi-latest-updates-2023-07-13-880893
⁴: https://www.mpa.gov.in/bills-list

(1) All-Party Meeting highlights: 31 bills likely to be taken up during Parliament’s monsoon session. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/allparty-meeting-live-news-updates-today-18-july-2023-monsoon-session-101689719159436.html.
(2) Explained | What to expect from the Monsoon Session of Parliament …. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/parliament-monsoon-session-2023-details-explained-primer-lok-sabha-rajya-sabha/article67099241.ece.
(3) Monsoon Session begins today, Opposition to corner government on Manipur; 31 new bills to be tabled. https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/parliament-monsoon-session-2023-lok-sabha-rajya-sabha-july-20-bills-pm-modi-pralhad-joshi-manipur-violence-ucc-latest-updates-2023-07-20-881877.
(4) Bills List | Ministry OF Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India. https://www.mpa.gov.in/bills-list.
(5) Parliament Monsoon Session: Bill to amend IIM Act among 3 cleared by …. https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/parliament-monsoon-session-union-cabinet-clears-3-key-bills-iim-act-amendment-jan-vishwas-mines-and-minerals-pm-modi-latest-updates-2023-07-13-880893.