Author: DEEPIKA SETHIA

The Monsoon Session of Parliament began on July 20 and concluded on August 13, 2026, after 19 sittings. It has already answered one question: despite repeated disruption, the government can continue to transact legislative business. It has left another unanswered: what must Parliament contribute to a bill before it becomes law? The immediate evidence is striking, but the issue is larger than the bills themselves. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was passed by the Lok Sabha after a brief 14-minute discussion. The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2026, completed passage through both Houses…

As India celebrates its 80th Independence Day, a paradox deserves closer attention than the politics of the moment. The Indian State has become more capable than ever before, while its citizens have become more conscious and aware. Far from pulling in opposite directions, the two developments are reinforcing each other. Greater institutional capacity has also raised the cost of institutional failure. The defining question before the Indian Republic is whether public institutions can continue to command confidence as they pursue further reform. A stronger State raises the bar The past year is often told through two competing narratives. One celebrates…