Parliament's Monsoon Session to begin on July 21; nuclear sector reforms on agenda

The Monsoon Session of Parliament will begin on July 21 and run through August 21, a week longer than originally planned, signalling a packed legislative calendar.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju announced the revised dates on Wednesday, saying President Droupadi Murmu has approved the government's proposal to convene the session for an extended duration.

"In view of Independence Day celebrations, there will be no sittings on the 13th and 14th of August," Rijiju said in a post on X.

The Hon’ble President of India has approved the proposal of the Government to convene the Monsoon Session of Parliament from 21st July to 21st August, 2025. In view of the Independence Day celebrations, there will be no sittings on the 13th and 14th of August. pic.twitter.com/ReWs8T7Czk

— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) July 2, 2025

The session was earlier scheduled to conclude on August 12 but has now been extended by seven days to accommodate critical legislation.

Among the key items on the government’s agenda are amendments to the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act and the Atomic Energy Act, aimed at implementing the Union Budget announcement to open up the atomic energy sector to private players — a major policy shift in the tightly regulated field.

Meanwhile, opposition parties are gearing up to press the government on several issues, including a debate on Operation Sindoor — the retaliatory strike by Indian forces on terror launch pads inside Pakistan, following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.

The Opposition is also expected to seek clarity on former US President Donald Trump's controversial claim that he helped mediate an end to the India-Pakistan conflict and a potential nuclear standoff.

The government has strongly rejected these claims. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a phone call with Trump last month, is understood to have said: "India has never accepted mediation and would not ever accept it in future." He also clarified that the military operations were halted only after Pakistan — which reportedly suffered heavy damage to nine of its major airbases — "requested a ceasefire through existing military communication channels."

With the extension, the Monsoon Session is set to witness heated debates and high-stakes legislative moves in both Houses.