Floor leaders of the INDIA Bloc are scheduled to meet today at 10 AM in the office of Leader of Opposition-Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, within Parliament House. This meeting is considered crucial, taking place before a significant parliamentary session on Wednesday, August 20, where the central government intends to introduce several bills.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to introduce three bills in the Lok Sabha, including a Constitution Amendment bill, a bill to amend the Union Territories Act of 1963, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2025.
These three pieces of legislation, alongside the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, are listed on the revised Lok Sabha agenda for Wednesday.
The Union Home Minister plans to introduce the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirtieth Amendment) Bill, 2025, which aims to further amend the Constitution of India, and the Government of Union Territories (Amendment) Bill, 2025, in addition to the bill amending the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019.
The three bills are intended to be referred to a Joint Committee of the two Houses. The Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill 2025 specifically seeks to amend section 54 of the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019, to provide a legal framework for the removal of the Chief Minister or a Minister if arrested or detained due to serious criminal charges.
The bill’s statement of objects and reasons emphasizes that elected representatives embody the hopes and aspirations of the Indian people. It notes that a Minister facing allegations of serious criminal offenses, arrested and held in custody, might undermine constitutional morality, good governance principles, and public trust. Another bill, the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, is also slated for introduction in the Lok Sabha today. This bill aims to promote and regulate the online gaming sector, covering e-sports, educational games, and social gaming. It also provides for the establishment of an Authority to support coordinated policy, strategic development, and regulatory oversight of the sector.
The Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, is likely to be introduced by Electronics and Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. It seeks to prohibit the offering, operation, facilitation, advertisement, promotion, and participation in online money games using any computer resource, mobile device, or the internet, particularly where such activities cross state borders or originate from foreign jurisdictions. The bill aims to protect individuals, especially youth and vulnerable populations, from the negative social, economic, psychological, and privacy-related impacts of such games. It seeks to ensure the responsible use of digital technologies and maintain public order and health.
