01/01/2026
2025 at a Glance: Major Acts Passed by the Parliament
The year 2025 marked a transformative phase in India’s legislative history. Parliament passed several landmark laws spanning finance, digital regulation, social welfare, energy, sports governance, and minority affairs.
1. Insurance (Amendment) Act, 2025
(Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha Act)
Key Reform: Increases the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) limit in the insurance sector from 74% to 100%, allowing full foreign ownership.
Goal: Promotes digital insurance policies and reduces entry barriers to achieve "Insurance for All by 2047."
2. Finance Act, 2025
Statutory Support: Provides legal backing to the Union Budget 2025-26.
Ease of Business: A major highlight is the abolition of the 6% Digital Tax on online advertisements, facilitating a more business-friendly environment.
3. Income Tax Act, 2025
Modernization: Replaces the six-decade-old Income Tax Act of 1961.
Objective: Simplifies direct taxation, encourages voluntary compliance, and enhances transparency to boost investor confidence.
4. VB-GRAM JI Act, 2025
(Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission for Joint Initiative)
Evolution of MGNREGA: Replaces the existing MGNREGA with a restructured rural employment framework.
Benefit: Increases the guarantee of salaried employment from 100 days to 125 days per rural household.
5. Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025
National Framework: Establishes India's first national regulatory body for online gaming.
Distinction: Promotes E-sports and social games while imposing a total ban on online money-gaming (gambling) platforms.
6. Central Excise (Amendment) Act & Health and National Security Cess Act, 2025
Tax Restructuring: These acts replace the GST Compensation Cess on to***co and pan masala, which is being phased out by 2026.
7. Electricity (Amendment) Act, 2025
Market Competition: Modernizes the power sector by promoting competition in electricity distribution, allowing consumers more choices in service providers.
8. National Sports Governance Act, 2025
Accountability: In a historic move, it brings the BCCI under the ambit of the RTI Act and recognizes it as a National Sports Federation (NSF).
9. Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025
Governance: Aims to improve the management, transparency, and auditing of Waqf properties across the country.
10. SHANTI Act, 2025
(Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Transformation for India)
Clean Energy: Supports India’s transition to green energy with a goal of 100 GW nuclear capacity by 2047.
Innovation: Recognizes Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and allows limited private sector participation while enhancing safety standards.
Wishing you a Very Happy New Year 2026
Rajeev Kumar Sahu