Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla chairs BAC meet ahead of Monsoon Session
Synopsis
Hours before the Monsoon Session of Parliament opened, Speaker Om Birla convened the BAC to gather cross-party input while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hosted 58 leaders from 40 parties at an all-party meeting. The session — 19 sittings across 25 days — is set to run from 20 July to 13 August, with the legislative agenda already published on 16 July.
Key Takeaways
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla chaired the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting on 19 July , seeking cross-party input ahead of the Monsoon Session.
The Monsoon Session begins on 20 July and is expected to conclude on 13 August , covering 19 sittings over 25 days .
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired an all-party meeting attended by 58 leaders from 40 political parties .
The legislative business agenda was published in Bulletin Part-II by both parliamentary secretariats on 16 July .
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju called the all-party meeting and requested cooperation for smooth functioning of both Houses.
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday, 19 July chaired a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of the Lok Sabha on the eve of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, inviting all political parties to suggest topics of public importance for discussion during the session. The pre-session consultations signal an effort to build cross-party consensus before proceedings begin on Monday, 20 July.
What the BAC Meeting Covered
Speaker Birla called upon representatives of all parties in the Lok Sabha to table their priorities — covering both legislative and non-legislative business — for the upcoming session. Members from the treasury benches as well as the opposition exchanged views on what should be scheduled for debate.
The Speaker underscored the value of constructive deliberations and urged all parties to uphold the highest parliamentary traditions. He appealed for full cooperation from every group to ensure proceedings remain orderly and that issues of public concern receive thorough, productive discussion.
According to an official statement, the final scheduling of debates and the allocation of time for each item will be determined in line with established parliamentary procedures and in consultation with the government and party leaders.
All-Party Meeting at Parliament House Complex
In a parallel development, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired an all-party meeting at the Parliament House Complex, called by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. The gathering drew 58 leaders from 40 political parties, including several ministers, to discuss matters related to the Monsoon Session.
Also present were Health and Family Welfare Minister J.P. Nadda — who also serves as Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha — Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan.
Session Schedule and Legislative Agenda
Defence Minister Singh confirmed that the Monsoon Session will commence on Monday, 20 July and, subject to the exigencies of government business, is expected to conclude on 13 August. The session will span 25 days and comprise 19 sittings.
Rijiju noted that the legislative business agenda for the session had already been published in Bulletin Part-II by both secretariats of Parliament on 16 July. He requested party leaders to cooperate for the smooth functioning of both Houses and assured them the government is open to discussing any important issue permitted under the Rules of Procedure.
Cross-Party Response
Leaders from various political parties outlined the issues they intend to raise during the session and assured the government of their cooperation. Rijiju acknowledged all concerns raised and thanked the leaders for their active participation.
With both the BAC consultation and the all-party meeting concluded, the stage is set for what both the government and opposition have signalled should be a productive — if potentially contentious — Monsoon Session.
Point of View
But their tone matters. A 19-sitting session ending before Independence Day leaves limited floor time for substantive legislation, raising questions about what the government actually intends to push through versus what it will park for the Winter Session. The all-party format gives the opposition a structured channel to flag priorities, but whether those priorities translate into actual debate time depends on scheduling decisions that remain entirely with the government. The real test of these consultations will come in the first week of proceedings.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Monsoon Session of Parliament 2025 begin and end?
The Monsoon Session begins on Monday, 20 July 2025 and is expected to conclude on 13 August 2025, subject to the exigencies of government business. It will comprise 19 sittings spread over 25 days.
What is the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) of Lok Sabha?
The Business Advisory Committee is a parliamentary body chaired by the Lok Sabha Speaker that recommends the schedule and time allocation for legislative and other business during a session. It meets before each session to gather party inputs and plan the agenda.
Who attended the all-party meeting ahead of the Monsoon Session?
58 leaders from 40 political parties attended the all-party meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh at the Parliament House Complex. The meeting was called by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju and also included Health Minister J.P. Nadda, MoS Arjun Ram Meghwal, and MoS L. Murugan.
When was the legislative agenda for the Monsoon Session published?
The legislative business agenda for the Monsoon Session was published in Bulletin Part-II by both secretariats of Parliament on 16 July, ahead of the session's commencement on 20 July.
What did Speaker Om Birla emphasise at the BAC meeting?
Speaker Birla emphasised constructive deliberations, meaningful participation, and adherence to the highest parliamentary traditions. He appealed to all parties to cooperate for orderly proceedings so that issues of public concern can be discussed comprehensively.
