23 key Bills the Modi government wants to pass in Parliament's Monsoon session

Parliament is once again expected to see major fireworks when it reassembles for the Monsoon Session on Monday.

The Opposition is expected to corner the government on a range of issues, including the latest Pegasus snoopgate, second wave of Coronavirus, rising fuel prices and other issues.

At least 23 Bills are expected to be considered in the Lok Sabha during the 19-day session. Let's take a look:

The Tribunal Reforms (Rationalisation and Conditions of Service) Bill, 2021:
Introduced by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 13, the Bill aims is to dissolve some existing appellate bodies and transfer their functions to other existing judicial bodies. A similar bill was put in effect on April 4, 2021.

The DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019:
Introduced by the then Union Science and Technology Minister Harsh Vardhan on July 8, 2019, the Bill sought to regulate the use of DNA to establish the identities of certain individuals. Under the Bill, the testing is allowed only in the certain matter listed in the Schedule to the Bill, like offences under the IPC and paternity suits. It also includes testing for establishing the identity of an individual. The Bill had been introduced in the Lok Sabha in 2018 but lapsed. The report was tabled in the Lok Sabha on February 3, 2021. 

The Factoring Regulation (Amendment) Bill, 2020:
The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on September 14, 2020, and seeks to amend the Factoring Regulation Act, 2011, to widen the scope of entities that can engage in the factoring business. Under the 2011 act, factoring business is a business where an entity (termed a factor) acquires the receivables of another entity (termed assignor) for a particular amount. Receivables is the total amount that is either owed or yet to be paid by customers (termed debtors) to the assignor for the use of goods, services and/or facilities. The new Bill seeks to amend the definition of receivables to mean any money owed by a debtor to the assignor for toll or the use of any service or facility. It also amends the definition of assignment along with factoring business as the Bill defines a factoring business to mean the business of either the acquisitions of receivables of an assignor by accepting assignment of such receivables or financing against the security interests of any receivables through advances or loans. The Bill seeks to change it to define factoring business as an acquisition for receivables of an assignor by assignment for consideration, and the acquisition should be for the purpose of collection of the receivables or for financing against such assignment. The Bill also modifies the registration of factors and removes the barrier for NBFCs. It also removes the 30 day time period required for the registration of transactions and empowers the RBI to make regulations. The Bill was tabled in the Lok Sabha on March 19, 2021.

The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Bill, 2020:
The Bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on September 14, 2020. It seeks to provide regulation of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) services in the country. It defines ART as including all techniques that obtain pregnancy by handling the sperm or the oocyte outside the human body and then transferring the embryo into the reproductive system of a woman -- for example, in-vitro-fertilisation, also known as IVF. ART services will be provided through specific ART clinics and ART banks. The Bill seeks to regulate the clinics and banks through a national registry, along with setting conditions for gamete donation and supply as well as conditions for offering the service in order to protect the oocyte donors. The Bill also states that the National and State boards for Surrogacy will be responsible for the ART services. There are also offences and penalties defined by the Bill such as abandonment or exploitation of a child, the selling or trading of embryos/gametes, usage of intermediaries, exploitation of the donor and the transfer of the human embryo into a male or animal. The penalties range from fines to 12 years imprisonment. Also, no sex selection is allowed and also has a fine as well as imprisonment of up to 10 years. 

The Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens (Amendment) Bill, 2019:
The Bill was introduced on December 11, 2019. The Bill widens the definition of children by including step-children, adopted children, and legal guardians of minor children. The Bill removes the maximum limit on the maintenance amount of Rs 10,000. It also allows children and relatives, in addition to senior citizens, to appeal decisions of the Tribunal. It also allows the Tribunal to issue a warrant to levy the amount in case of failure of payment, and imprisonment may follow. It seeks to provide regulation of private care homes and home services. It was sent to the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment for further deliberations and was tabled on January 29, 2021.

The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2021:
The Bill seeks to replace the earlier version of the Bill, The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021, which was put into effect on April 4, 2021, and amended the earlier version of 2016. Insolvency is a situation where individuals or companies are not able to pay their outstanding debt. Its aim is to provide a quicker, semi-formal, less disruptive and cost-effective framework for insolvency resolution of corporate debtors in distress. 

The Essential Defence Services Bill, 2021:
The Bill seeks to replace the earlier version named The Essential Defence Services Ordinance, 2021, which was promulgated on June 30, 2021. It allowed the central government to prohibit strikes, lock-outs and lay-offs in units engaged in essential defence services. The new proposed version seeks to ensure the continued supply of arms, ammunition and other good and services to the Armed Forces in case of a strike against the decision to corporatise the artillery factories.  

The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Bill, 2021:
This Bill seeks to replace a similar ordinance named The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Ordinance, 2021 that was promulgated on April 13, 2021, and provided for the constitution of a commission for better coordination, research, identification and resolution of problems related to air quality in the NCR and adjoining areas. The Bill's aim is to provide a permanent solution for the problem of air pollution in the NCR and adjoining areas, and the Commission for Air Quality Management will be set up.

The Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Amendment Bill, 2021:
The Bill seeks to allow the leasing of coal and mining rights to any company which emerges as a successful bidder in the auction of coal blocks. 

The Chartered Accounts, the Cost and Works Accountants and the Company Secretaries (Amendment) Bill, 2021: 
This Bill seeks to reforms and speeds up the disciplinary mechanism of the institutes. 

The Limited Liability Partnership (Amendment) Bill, 2021:
The Bill seeks to amend the earlier version called the Limited Liability Partnership Act, which was passed in 2008 and intends to decriminalise 12 compoundable offences which are related to procedural and technical violations. 

The Cantonment Bill, 2021:
The Bill seeks to establish a higher degree of democratisation, modernisation and overall improvement in the governance structures of Cantonment Boards. 

The Indian Antarctica Bill, 2021:
The Bill aims to formulate a policy and regulatory framework for India's activities in the polar region of Antarctica. 

The Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2021:
An earlier version was introduced in 2019 and sought to amend the 2009 act of the same name, which establishes universities for teaching and research in multiple states. This Bill will establish a Central University in the Union Territory of Ladakh. 

The Indian Institute of Forest Management Bill, 2021:
This Bill will declare the existing Indian Institute of Forest Management Bhopal as the only forestry management educational institution in India to grant degrees. 

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2021:
This Bill amends the PFRDA Act to separate the National Pension System Trust from the PFRDA. It is listed under bills for introduction, consideration and passing. 

The Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2021:
This Bill intends to amend the DICGC Act of 1961 in order to ensure easy and time-bound access for depositors to their money in case of a suspension in the insures bank. 

The Marine Fisheries Bill, 2021:
The Bill intends to annul the Maritime Zones of India (Regulation of Fishing by Foreign Vessels) Act of 1981. It also aims to provide for the sustainable development of fisheries resources in the Economic Zone of India and prime small-scale and artisanal fishers. 

The Petroleum and Minerals Pipeline (Amendment) Bill, 2021:
A similar Bill was passed in 2011 and provided for the acquisition of rights of users in land for Laing pipelines for the transport of petroleum and minerals. It also enhanced certain punishments and penalties. The 2021 Bill aims to make the system of laying pipelines stronger. 

The Inland Vessels Bill, 2021:
This Bill will replace the Inland Vessels Act of 1917 and seeks to regulate the safety, security and registration of inland vessels. It aims to provide a central database for the registration of the vessels, and all non-mechanically propelled vessels will have to be regifted at the district, talk, panchayat or village level. It also aims to widen the definition of inland waters and deals with pollution control measures of the vessels. 

The Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2021:
The aim of the proposed amendment is to de-license distribution businesses in order to allow competition, the appointment of a member versed in law in every Commission. It also aims to straighten the APTEL, being a penalty for the non-compliance of ROP and prescribes the rights and duties of consumers.

The Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2021:
The Bill aims to prevent and counter-trafficking persons, especially women and children, to provide care, protection and rehabilitation to the victims while respecting their rights and creating a supportive legal, economic and social environment for them. It also ensures the prosecution of offenders and for any matters connected to them. 

The National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management Bill, 2021:
An earlier version of this Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha on February 13, 2019, and was passed on March 16 in the Rajya Sabha. It was then tabled in the Lok Sabha. The Bill declares certain institutes of food technology, entrepreneurship and management as institutions of national importance. The institutes include the National Institute of Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management Kundli, Haryana, and the Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, and the Bills term them as National Institutes of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management.