A meeting of the floor leaders from the INDIA Bloc is scheduled for today at 10 AM in the office of the Leader of Opposition-Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, within Parliament House. This meeting is taking place ahead of a crucial parliamentary session on Wednesday, August 20, where the central government is set to introduce several bills.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to introduce three significant bills in the Lok Sabha today. These include a bill to amend the Constitution, a bill concerning the Union Territories Act of 1963, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2025.
These three bills, along with the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, are listed in the revised agenda for the Lok Sabha session on Wednesday.
The Union Home Minister will introduce the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, intended to further amend the Constitution of India, as well as the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and the bill to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.
It is anticipated that all three bills will be referred to a Joint Committee comprising members from both Houses of Parliament. Specifically, the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2025 seeks to amend section 54 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, to create a legal process for removing the Chief Minister or a Minister in cases of arrest or detention on serious criminal charges.
The statement of objects and reasons associated with the bill underlines that elected representatives are the voice of the Indian people. It states that a Minister facing serious criminal allegations, who has been arrested and detained, could obstruct constitutional morality and good governance, ultimately eroding the public’s trust. Furthermore, the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, is also expected to be introduced in the Lok Sabha today. The purpose of this bill is to promote and regulate the online gaming industry, encompassing e-sports, educational games, and social gaming, while also establishing an Authority for policy support, strategic development, and regulatory oversight.
It is likely that Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will introduce the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. This bill aims to prohibit offering, operating, facilitating, advertising, promoting, and participating in online money games through any computer resource, mobile device, or the internet, particularly if such activities span across state borders or originate from foreign jurisdictions. The bill seeks to protect individuals, especially youth and vulnerable populations, from the negative societal, economic, psychological, and privacy-related consequences associated with these games. The aim is to ensure responsible utilization of digital technologies, maintain public order, and protect public health.