India’s Parliament is in the midst of a sweeping legislative overhaul, with a raft of amendment bills introduced and debated in recent weeks, aiming to modernize the country’s legal landscape and respond to the evolving needs of its society. From strengthening digital rights and expanding educational access for young children, to redefining protections in the workplace and updating family law, the breadth of proposed changes signals a pivotal moment for governance and civil rights in the world’s largest democracy.
On December 5, 2025, the Rajya Sabha saw the introduction of a series of amendment bills targeting key sectors such as technology, education, social justice, and governance. According to Devdiscourse, these reforms are designed to address emerging challenges and bring India’s statutes in line with global best practices. The legislative push comes at a time when the country is grappling with rapid technological change, demographic shifts, and growing demands for accountability and inclusion.
One of the most closely watched proposals is the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to expand the landmark Right to Education (RTE) Act to include children aged 3 to 6 years. This move would formally integrate pre-primary education—commonly referred to as Balvatikas—into the definition of foundational education, extending the RTE’s coverage to children aged 3 to 14. The bill also mandates annual state-level reporting, introduces regulatory oversight for private preschools, and prescribes qualifications and ongoing training for pre-primary teachers. These measures are intended to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy, ensure early detection of learning disabilities, and promote inclusive education through specialized support.
The urgency of this reform was echoed in the Rajya Sabha on December 12, when nominated MP Sudha Murty advocated for a constitutional amendment to guarantee free and compulsory education for children in the 3–6 age group. As reported by Devdiscourse, Murty’s private member resolution proposed the introduction of Article 21B to enshrine this entitlement in the Constitution. "Early education is critical, as recommended by the National Education Policy 2020," she argued, urging the government to take concrete steps to bolster Anganwadi services or develop other suitable mechanisms. The debate sparked by her resolution highlighted a range of perspectives, including the challenges faced by Anganwadis, the dangers of commercialization in early education, and the need for uniform educational standards across the country.
Education wasn’t the only area under the legislative microscope. The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduced in the Rajya Sabha, contains several proposals with far-reaching implications. Among them is Amendment 6, which would introduce Article 21B to explicitly guarantee the Right to Privacy and Digital Rights. This includes personal data protection, autonomy, and dignity, granting citizens greater control over data collection and processing. The amendment also restricts surveillance and automated profiling except by lawful procedure, and empowers Parliament to enact comprehensive data rights frameworks. As detailed by Devdiscourse, this proposal is part of a broader push to modernize constitutional protections for the digital age and reduce digital inequality.
In tandem, the Digital Personal Data Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2025, seeks to expand safeguards for personal data, strengthen consent requirements, and enhance individual rights in data processing. It broadens the definition of harm, mandates explicit consent for all data sharing—including cross-border transfers—and treats violations as data breaches subject to penalties and compensation. Individuals would gain new rights such as data erasure, portability, and compensation for misuse. The bill also restructures the Data Protection Board to guarantee independence and accountability, addressing concerns about transparency and judicial oversight.
Social justice and workplace protections are also at the heart of the legislative agenda. The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Amendment Bill, 2024, proposes two key changes: expanding protection to cover all persons, regardless of gender identity, and strengthening confidentiality and redressal processes. The amendments aim to reinforce constitutional guarantees of equality, impose stricter penalties for breaches of confidentiality, and extend the complaint-filing window to one year. They also mandate quarterly awareness programs, particularly targeting women in informal sectors, to ensure that all workers are informed of their rights and available mechanisms for redress.
Other notable bills include amendments to the Surrogacy Laws, aimed at embedding equality and non-discrimination by expanding access to surrogacy for individuals across diverse sexual orientations, gender identities, and marital statuses. The Representation of the People (Amendment) Bill, 2024, seeks to modernize voter registration by introducing a clear definition of “usual resident” and allowing overseas citizens to vote for their home constituencies from abroad. Meanwhile, the Information Technology (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduces new offences for incitement to violence, criminal intimidation, and deepfake-related misconduct, while also establishing liability for faulty digital navigation and algorithmic errors.
Animal welfare, wildlife protection, and food safety are also being addressed. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduces enhanced penalties and enforcement mechanisms, while the Wild Life (Protection) Amendment Bill, 2025, aims to decentralize decision-making and grant states greater authority in managing human-wildlife conflict. The Food Safety and Standards (Amendment) Bill, 2025, brings religious dietary certifications under exclusive government authority, seeking to standardize and monitor their issuance.
On the governance front, the Joint Committee of Parliament examining the Bills for simultaneous elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies had its tenure extended on December 11, 2025. As reported by The Hindu, Committee Chairman P.P. Chaudhary moved the motion in the Lok Sabha to extend the committee’s tenure up to the first day of the last week of the 2026 Budget session. Since its constitution last December, the committee has consulted constitutional experts, economists, and Law Commission Chairman Dinesh Maheshwari. Chaudhary noted that preparing the report would take time, given the need to consult a wide range of stakeholders.
The legislative momentum reflects mounting pressure to address longstanding gaps and adapt to new realities. Whether it’s expanding the definition of childhood education, enshrining digital rights, or reforming workplace protections, the amendments on the table promise to reshape the contours of Indian law and society. As these bills move through the legislative process, the coming months will reveal how Parliament balances inclusivity, accountability, and the demands of a rapidly changing nation.
With debate intensifying and a diverse array of voices weighing in, India’s Parliament stands at a crossroads. The outcome of these reforms will not only determine the future of its legal framework but also set the tone for the country’s social contract in the years ahead.
