More Stories

Informist, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025

 

NEW DELHI – The Monsoon Session of Parliament concluded on Thursday, with the Rajya Sabha passing the bill on online gaming. Other key businesses of Parliament during the session included passing of the Income Tax Bill, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal's statement on India-US relations, and discussion on Operation Sindoor.

 

On Thursday, the Rajya Sabha passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill without any debate, mirroring the Lok Sabha's approach the previous day. The bill seeks to discourage online money games as they are addictive and lead to financial losses.

 

The online gaming regulation prohibits the offering, operation, facilitation, advertisement, promotion, and participation in online money games through any computer resource, mobile device, or the internet, particularly when these activities cross state borders or originate from foreign jurisdictions. The law also entails a fine of up to INR 100 million and imprisonment of a maximum of three years for those convicted.

 

Earlier this month, Parliament also passed the Income Tax Bill, which was discussed only in the Rajya Sabha. The bill simplifies the Income Tax Act, 1961, to make it easier for taxpayers to calculate their tax dues and file returns.

 

Washington's tariff announcement on Indian goods was also made when the one-month-long Monsoon Session was going on. Subsequently, Goyal gave statement in both houses shedding light on how New Delhi would navigate through the uncertain trade and tariff landscape. He mentioned that the government was studying the implications of US tariffs on the Indian economy.  

 

Goyal had also reiterated New Delhi's stance on not opening the politically and socially sensitive farm and dairy sector under the trade deal with the US. Washington wanted to push its genetically modified crops and dairy products into India.

 

Due to the disagreement over the farm sector, the negotiations for a trade agreement between the two parties have reached a stalemate with the indefinite deferment of the sixth round of negotiations. The discussions were expected to begin on Aug. 25 in New Delhi. 

 

Parliament had begun the Monsoon Session with a discussion on Operation Sindoor, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi also participated. Vice-President of India and ex-officio Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Jagdeep Dhankhar tendered his resignation from his post on the first day of the session. The Election Commission of India will conduct the election for the next vice-president on Sept. 9.  End

 

Reported by Krity Ambey

Edited by Subhojit Sarkar

 

For users of real-time market data terminals, Informist news is available exclusively on the NSE Cogencis WorkStation.

 

Cogencis news is now Informist news. This follows the acquisition of Cogencis Information Services Ltd. by NSE Data & Analytics Ltd., a 100% subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. As a part of the transaction, the news department of Cogencis has been sold to Informist Media Pvt. Ltd.

 

Informist Media Tel +91 (11) 4220-1000

Send comments to feedback@informistmedia.com

 

© Informist Media Pvt. Ltd. 2025. All rights reserved.