Indian Parliament Passes MSME and Supreme Court Judges Bills

The Indian Parliament passed two significant pieces of legislation on August 3, 2026, via voice vote. In the Rajya Sabha, Jitan Ram Manjhi, the Union MSME Minister, moved the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development (Amendment) Bill, 2026. This law targets liquidity constraints by empowering courts to order the payment of at least 50% of awarded amounts to suppliers if applications remain pending for over six months. It also mandates that Central Public Sector Enterprises use the Reserve Bank of India-authorised Trade Receivables Discounting System for settlements and establishes a national digital registration platform.

Simultaneously, the Lok Sabha passed the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Bill, 2026, which increases the sanctioned strength of Supreme Court judges from 33 to 37, excluding the Chief Justice.

Both proceedings were marked by intense disruptions from Opposition members, including the Indian National Congress and TMC. Protesters demanded an apology for police violence against student protesters in Delhi and the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah. They further raised concerns regarding the use of pellet guns against NEET protesters and alleged theft of donations from the Ayodhya Ram temple. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju condemned the Opposition for creating a ruckus and refusing to participate in the constructive debate of the bills.