The Budget session of Parliament is likely to commence on January 28 and the Union Budget is set to be tabled on February 1, a Sunday
| Photo Credit: The Hindu

The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), through the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR), conducted field surveys along India’s coastline between 2022 and 2025 to assess microplastic and marine debris levels. Image for representation.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto

The Parliamentary Select Committee appointed to review the new Income Tax Bill 2025 proposed by the government has retained the provisions in the new Bill empowering tax officials to access, forcibly if necessary, the social media and private emails of people they are conducting search and seizure operations on. 

The Income Tax Bill 2025 was introduced in the Lok Sabha in February 2025. The aim behind the Bill, as per the government, is to simplify and rationalise the existing Income Tax Act 1961 and the numerous amendments that have been made to it over the decades since it was introduced. It was then sent to a Select Committee, chaired by Baijayant Panda, for a review.

The government on Monday (July 21, 2025) tabled the 4,575 page report in the Lok Sabha.

The new Bill’s expanded scope of powers given to tax officials during search and seizure operations has drawn criticism and calls for change, including from the experts the Select Committee consulted during its review. 

Stricter searches

According to the new Bill, if a person is found to be in possession or control of any books of account, or other documents and information maintained digitally, on computer systems, or stored electronically, then they must provide the designated income tax officer “reasonable technical and other assistance (including access code, by whatever name called) as may be necessary” to enable the officer to inspect “any information, electronic records and communication or data contained in or available on such computer systems”.

Further, the Bill also says that the authorised officer can gain access to these electronic systems by “overriding the access code to any said computer system, or virtual digital space, where the access code thereof is not available”. 

A ‘virtual digital space’ includes social media accounts, online investment accounts, trading accounts, bank accounts, remote server or cloud server, and digital application platforms. 

According to the report, the stakeholders the Committee consulted during its examination of the Bill raised red flags regarding these provisions. 

Changes “not feasible”

The stakeholders suggested that the power to gain the access codes of social media accounts be placed out of the purview of relevant sections of the new Bill. They also stated that the Bill should make clear that, if access is gained to personal email addresses and computer systems, the use of these accounts “shall be made only to the extent it is relevant for Income-Tax Act and not for any purpose beyond the Income-tax Act”. 

Others suggested that “tangible reasons for seeking access may be recorded in writing prior to any such activity being undertaken”.

The Select Committee, however, has argued that the provisions in the new Bill are necessary and therefore suggested no changes to them.

“Various incriminating evidences and material are found/seized from electronic records including WhatsApp communications, emails, etc,” it said in its report. “In most of the cases of search operation the taxpayers do not share the password/login credential of online forums/portals/e-mail accounts, etc. 

“This is because various encrypted communication modes are being used by tax payers to communicate and discuss their unaccounted transactions,” it added. “The amendment has been rightly made to rationalise the provisions. Thus, the suggestion is not feasible.”

With regard to the stakeholders’ suggestion that tangible reasons for providing access be provided, the Committee said this was “not feasible” as it “seeks to provide safeguard in the statute to prevent abuse of power by Revenue officials as well as protect the privacy of taxpayers”.

Significant simplification

According to the Committee’s report, the new Bill is a big step forward in simplifying India’s income tax legislation. The new Bill has pared down the number of words in the law to 2,59,676 from the 5,12,535 in the Income Tax Act 1961.

The number of chapters have also been reduced to 23 from 47, and the number of sections have been slashed to 536 from 819. On the other hand, to provide greater clarity, the new Bill has increased the number of tables it incorporates to 57 from 18, and the number of formulae to 46 from 6. 

“The language has been simplified making the document easy to read and understand,” the Committee’s report noted. “The drafting style of the new Bill is straightforward and clear, making the provisions easier to understand.” 

Redundancies and need for cross-referencing between Sections and Chapters have been eliminated,” it added. “Greater clarity has been brought in the Act without any structural or policy changes and without disturbing the long-settled taxation principles.”

Published – July 21, 2025 02:37 pm IST

Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav speaks in the Lok Sabha on February 11, 2025. Photo: Sansad TV via PTI

Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday (February 11, 2025) said that the Union Budget was “only for the rich people of the country”, and had failed to provide any roadmap for ‘Viksit Bharat’ (developed India).

Participating in the discussion on the Budget in the Lok Sabha, Mr. Yadav also said that the Uttar Pradesh government had not provided the final number on how many people had died in the stampede at the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj.

He questioned the absence of drones promised for surveillance at the Maha Kumbh. “Where is ‘Digital India’? They are not yet able to provide the number of the people who died or were lost,” Mr. Yadav alleged.

For the first time, the Opposition leader said, there was “a 300 km traffic jam on way to the Kumbh Mela” and “they used two Chief Ministers [of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh] to stop the jam”.

“What is the benefit of reaching the moon when you cannot solve problems on the ground?” the MP from Kannauj said .

The Maha Kumbh is being held at Prayagraj in Uttar Pradesh from from January 13-February 26. The stampede took place on January 29, ‘Mauni Amavasya’, one of the most auspicious days in the Hindu calendar. The U.P. government has said at least 30 persons lost their lives and 60 persons were injured in the incident.

Claiming that a few people held the entire wealth of the nation, Mr. Yadav said “the extent of the matter is such that free ration is being distributed to 80 crore people in the country”.

He said that in U.P., the “double engine” government was making “double blunders”.

Mr. Yadav said there had been no increase in farmers’ incomes, and the government should consider waiving off farmers’ loans.

Organised to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda, the Panchayat Se Parliament 2.0 programme will have workshops and sessions, a guided tour of the new Parliament House, Samvidhan Sadan, Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, and Rashtrapati Bhavan for the participants offering them a deeper understanding of India’s legislative process and the functioning of democratic institutions.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will on Monday (January 6, 2025) inaugurate “Panchayat Se Parliament 2.0” which seeks to give insight into the Constitution and parliamentary procedures to over 500 women representatives from Panchayati Raj institutions from across the country.

Organised to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of tribal icon Birsa Munda, the programme will have workshops and sessions, a guided tour of the new Parliament House, Samvidhan Sadan, Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya, and Rashtrapati Bhavan for the participants offering them a deeper understanding of India’s legislative process and the functioning of democratic institutions.

The programme will bring together 502 elected women representatives from Scheduled Tribes of 22 States and Union Territories, ensuring a diverse and inclusive group, the Lok Sabha secretariat said on Sunday (January 5, 2025).

It aims to empower elected women representatives from Scheduled Tribes from Panchayati Raj institutions and enhance their knowledge of constitutional provisions, parliamentary procedures, and governance to foster effective leadership.

Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi, and National Commission for Women chief, Vijaya Rahatkar will attend the event.

Tribal Affairs Minister Jual Oram will address the second session later in the day.

Interactive workshops and sessions will be organised for the participants and moderated by experts and MPs.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman speaks during the Winter session of Parliament, in New Delhi, on December 17, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday (December 17, 2024) said the lower-than-expected GDP growth of 5.4% in the second quarter was a “temporary blip” and the economy will see healthy growth in the coming quarters.

Replying to a debate in the Lok Sabha on the first batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants, she said India has seen “steady and sustained” growth and its GDP growth rate has averaged 8.3% in the last three years.

Parliament Winter Session Day 18 LIVE Updates

India continues to be the fastest-growing major economy in the world, Ms. Sitharaman added.

The second quarter growth is only a “temporary blip”, and the economy will see healthy growth in the coming quarters, Ms. Sitharaman said.

The Finance Minister further said there is no broad-based slowdown in the manufacturing sector. Half of the sectors within the overall manufacturing basket continue to remain strong.

The Indian economy grew 6.7% in the first (April-June) quarter and 5.4% in the July-September period.

About inflation, Ms. Sitharaman said it is better controlled in the NDA regime, whereas under the UPA, it touched double digits.

Retail inflation in April-October 2024-25 stood at 4.8%, the lowest since the COVID pandemic, she noted.

Ms. Sitharaman said the unemployment rate has come down from 6% in 2017-18 to 3.2%t now.

In this combo photo, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge speak in the House on July 24, 2024. Photo: Sansad TV via PTI

In both Houses of Parliament, the Opposition attacked the government, accusing it of presenting a “discriminatory budget” that excluded the non-National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-ruled States. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman issued a strong rebuttal to this in Rajya Sabha, hitting out at the Opposition for deliberately maligning the government, and giving a wrong impression that some States had been left out.

The Rajya Sabha saw a sharp exchange of words between the two sides on Wednesday morning. The Opposition staged a walkout in protest. Congress president and Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said that only two States had benefited from the Union Budget, presented on Tuesday. He said it was a budget aimed solely at safeguarding the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led NDA government. “I condemn all this. Opposition party-ruled States have been neglected. How will development happen if there is no balance? I condemn this and all the parties condemn this type of attitude,” Mr. Kharge said.

Ms. Sitharaman reacted strongly to the accusation, saying that all the States could not be named in the budget, and the Congress, which had been in power for long, should know better than to make such an allegation. The finer details about scheme-wise allocations were available for all to see in the budget documents, she said.

“The Cabinet, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, decided to set up a port at Vadhavan (in Maharashtra’s Palghar district), but Maharashtra’s name was not included in the budget [speech] yesterday. Does this mean that Maharashtra should feel ignored?” she said, adding that ₹76,000 crore had been allocated for this project.

“This is a deliberate attempt of the Opposition parties led by the Congress to give the people the wrong impression that their States were not allocated funds or schemes,” Ms. Sitharaman said. “I would challenge the Congress party to show that in every budget speech they have delivered, all the States have been listed out. This is an outrageous allegation,” she added.

Later in the afternoon, initiating the debate, former Finance Minister and Rajya Sabha MP P. Chidambaram criticised the special treatment to Andhra Pradesh and Bihar in the budget. “I don’t grudge at all that you are giving relief to Andhra Pradesh or Bihar, but what about the other States? We are a federal country. This is the death knell of federalism if you pick and choose among States. You are the Union of India, you are the Union government, you are the government of all the States. You cannot pick and choose one State and deny relief to another State,” Mr. Chidambaram said.

While unemployment is the biggest challenge for the government, Mr. Chidambaram said that the government’s latest employment-linked scheme did not instil confidence and will be another election jumla (insincere promise).

On inflation, he said the Finance Minister had dismissed the subject in 10 words. “Is inflation such a trivial subject?” Mr. Chidambaram asked, citing data from the government on inflation. He said the bank rate set by the Reserve Bank of India is a good measure to know where inflation is moving, and added that the Centre was unable to reach the target of 4% inflation in the last four years.

“I think what the Chief Economic Advisor said in the Economic Survey [on inflation] is injury, and the honourable Finance Minister dismissing the subject in 10 words is adding insult to injury,” he said, and added that the Centre was not taking inflation seriously. “If you don’t take inflation seriously, you will be punished more,” he said, citing the recent Assembly bypoll results.

In the Lok Sabha, too, the Opposition levelled a similar charge. Initiating the debate in the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Kumari Selja termed the budget a collection of “jumlas”, cautioning NDA members Nitish Kumar and N. Chandrababu Naidu that they, “may celebrate today for getting a large share” but time could change.

“I would like to caution these two States… Nitish-ji has been with us for a long time, serving in 10th Lok Sabha term, and Naidu-ji is also very experienced. Do not be swayed by their (the Centre’s) words. It may seem today that they have given a lot, but it doesn’t take long for the tide to turn. Therefore, I want to caution them (Janata Dal-United or JD-U and Telugu Desam Party or TDP) as well. They may celebrate today, but it doesn’t take long for times to change,” she said.

Earlier in the day, before the two Houses sat down for business, the Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc members staged a protest. Members of Parliament held placards with slogans, including ‘We want India budget not NDA budget’ and ‘NDA betrays India in Budget’.

The shift to renewable energy could lead to new vulnerabilities in the supply chains for solar panels and critical minerals, the Economic Survey 2023-24 said. File (representational image)
| Photo Credit: K. Murali Kumar

India’s path to sustainable development is fraught with challenges, as the country grapples with the twin imperatives of meeting burgeoning energy demands and reducing carbon emissions, the Economic Survey 2023-24 revealed on July 22.

Also Read:Economic Survey 2023-24 LIVE updates

Tabled in the Parliament, the Survey underscores the complexities of India’s green transition, emphasizing the need for a diversified energy portfolio to achieve ambitious growth targets while adhering to climate commitments.

“Balancing development needs with a low-carbon pathway is a tightrope, especially when financed predominantly through domestic resources,” the Survey noted, highlighting the financial strain of pursuing cleaner energy alternatives.

Click here to download Economic Survey 2023-24

The document stressed the critical role of non-fossil fuel sources in meeting India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Net Zero goals. However, it also pointed out the challenges associated with renewable energy, including intermittency issues, waste management concerns for nuclear and solar technologies, and the potential impact of biofuel production on food security.

Acknowledging the importance of energy security, the survey advocated for a multi-pronged approach. It suggested diversification of energy sources, including renewables, nuclear, and biofuels; continued reliance on thermal power, particularly coal, to provide baseload support for renewable deployment; promotion of clean coal technologies like gasification and carbon capture, and enhanced international cooperation in R&D for emerging green technologies.

The Survey cautioned against over-reliance on imports, noting that while India’s dependence on petroleum imports is well-known, the shift to renewable energy could lead to new vulnerabilities in the supply chains for solar panels and critical minerals.

On a positive note, the report highlighted India’s significant progress in its mission-mode approach to addressing climate change. As of May 31, 2024, the share of non-fossil sources in installed electricity generation capacity has reached 45.4%, putting India on track to meet its updated NDC target of 50% by 2030.

The Survey called for a “more balanced approach” to climate change, suggesting policymakers focus on “nearer-term policy goals of improving human welfare” rather than being “excessively preoccupied” with long-term global climate management.

While acknowledging India’s achievements, the survey emphasized the need for financial support from developed countries.

With financing needs estimated at $2.5 trillion (at 2014-15 prices) for meeting NDC targets till 2030, access to finance and technology at reasonable costs is crucial to ease the resource constraints.

The agriculture insurance sector is likely to register growth from 2024 onwards. File
| Photo Credit: K.V.S. Giri

The agriculture insurance sector is likely to register growth from 2024 onwards, with an average real premium growth of 2.5% over the medium term, according to the Economic Survey 2023-24.

Also Read:Economic Survey 2023-24 LIVE updates

The survey, tabled in Parliament on July 22, noted that agriculture insurance, accounting for about 12% of the non-life insurance market, witnessed flat growth in FY23 due to a sharp decline in premium rates in the Kharif cropping season.

“However, this decline was more than offset by increased insured land area and farmer enrolments during the season,” it added.

Click here to download Economic Survey 2023-24

“Agriculture premiums will likely rise from 2024 onwards, with an average real premium growth of 2.5% cent over the medium term, supported by improvements in insurance infrastructure such as mobile applications and remote sensing for crop loss monitoring,” the survey said.

To address current concerns around crop insurance, the government has launched various technological initiatives. These include the YES-Tech Manual, WINDS portal, and enrolment app AIDE/Sahayak to assess crop damage via satellite-based advanced technologies.

The survey also highlighted door-to-door enrolment initiatives aimed at making crop insurance more accessible to farmers.

These measures are expected to enhance the efficiency of crop damage assessment and improve the overall accessibility of agricultural insurance in the country.

Currently, the government is implementing Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana and the Weather Based Crop Insurance Scheme.

The concept of green steel promotes the production of steel using green energy sources and minimizing the usage of fossil fuels. File (representational image)

Green steel will play an important role in reshaping the future of the industry as the world moves towards a low-carbon economy, the Economic Survey for 2023-24 said.

The concept of green steel promotes the production of steel using green energy sources and minimizing the usage of fossil fuels.

Also Read:Economic Survey 2023-24 LIVE updates

“As the world moves towards a low-carbon economy, green steel is poised to play a pivotal role in reshaping the future of the steel industry,” said the Survey tabled in Parliament on July 22.

“India’s steel sector accounts for 12% of India’s greenhouse gas emissions with an emission intensity of 2.5 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of crude steel compared to the global average of 1.9 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of crude steel,” it said.

The Survey also said, “India remained a net importer of steel during the first, second and third quarters of FY24 because of price differentials between international and domestic prices of finished steel.”

“Low prices in the international markets led to reduced profit margins for exports and made imports more affordable, affecting the trade balance in the steel sector,” it said.

Click here to download Economic Survey 2023-24

“The import dependence on coking coal, an essential raw material for steel production also went up from 56.1 MT in FY23 to 58.1 MT in FY24,” the Survey said.

The Survey also highlighted that many technologies required for global net zero are commercially unavailable, such as hydrogen-fuelled steel/cement, steel and aluminium production with (Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage) CCUS, etc.

“There is a need to enhance international cooperation in R&D, especially in the domains of distributed RE, offshore wind, geothermal, tidal energy, biofuels, compressed biogas, green hydrogen, energy storage, electrolysers, and nuclear power [including small modular reactors SMR],” it said.