Parliament Monsoon Session Day 11 highlights: Lok Sabha passes Bill to raise strength of judges in Supreme Court to 38; RS passes MSME Bill

The passage of the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill highlights the legislative power of Parliament over the composition of the highest court. Under Article 124(1) of the Constitution, the power to increase the number of judges in the Supreme Court of India rests with Parliament, not the Executive or the Judiciary itself. The initial strength was set at eight (including the Chief Justice), and it has been periodically increased to manage the growing pendency of cases, which is a significant challenge to the justice delivery system. This amendment, which replaces an ordinance, demonstrates the use of the ordinance-making power (Article 123) to enact urgent measures when Parliament is not in session, which must subsequently be approved by the legislature. From a UPSC perspective, understanding the constitutional basis for judicial appointments and structural changes to the court is critical, particularly concerning debates on judicial efficiency and the National Litigation Policy.

The passage of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill by the Rajya Sabha underscores the government's focus on the MSME sector, often termed the 'engine of economic growth'. MSMEs contribute significantly to India's GDP, manufacturing output, and employment generation. Amendments to the original MSMED Act, 2006 typically aim to ease regulatory compliance, improve access to credit, or redefine enterprise classifications to support scalability. The introduction of the Bankers’ Books Evidence Bill also points to a focus on modernizing financial regulations, likely by updating how banking records are treated as legal evidence, which is crucial for dispute resolution and financial transparency. For UPSC, it is essential to connect legislative changes in the MSME sector to broader economic goals like employment, export promotion, and Atmanirbhar Bharat, analyzing how policy interventions address structural bottlenecks in the sector.

The ongoing monsoon session, characterized by both legislative activity and significant disruptions, reflects the complex dynamics of parliamentary functioning. The passage of bills via voice vote amidst protests raises questions about the quality of parliamentary debate and scrutiny. When bills are passed without extensive discussion, the role of Parliamentary Standing Committees becomes even more crucial, although bills passed in this manner often bypass such scrutiny. The disruptions over issues like the NEET-UG paper leak highlight the role of the Opposition in demanding accountability from the Executive. However, frequent adjournments also lead to a loss of valuable legislative time. For UPSC Mains, analyzing the effectiveness of Parliament as an institution of accountability, the impact of disruptions on legislative quality, and the balance between government business and opposition demands is a recurring theme.