The Lok Sabha on Tuesday approved the Indian Institute of Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025, amidst vociferous protests from opposition benches. The bill aims to bring about amendments in the administration and management of the country's topmost management schools.
The bill was moved and passed during the Monsoon Session, while the Opposition organized protests against the on-going revision of electoral rolls in Bihar.
Discussion of the IIM Bill was dominated by pandemonium caused by opposition MPs of the INDIA bloc, who engaged in sloganeering and sought explanation from the government about the updating of electoral rolls in Bihar. The pandemonium necessitated frequent interventions of the Speaker, but the proceedings went on until the bill was voted upon.
Since the bill was passed, opposition party leaders blamed the government for pushing crucial business through in haste without sufficient deliberation.
After the IIM (Amendment) Bill had been passed, the House was adjourned till the end of the day. The adjournment followed a disrupted morning of repeated interruptions, walkouts, and hot arguments between treasury benches and opposition members.
The passage of the bill follows a period during which the Monsoon Session was characterized by tough political confrontations. During the day, the Opposition had been asked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rally behind the NDA's Vice-Presidential candidate with calls for consensus on the position. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was said to have been consulting leaders from all parties on the issue.
At another NDA parliamentary party meeting, the Prime Minister also targeted Jawaharlal Nehru, claiming that India's first Prime Minister had "split the country twice" and pointing to the Indus Water Treaty as "anti-farmer."
As for now, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav hinted that INDIA bloc leaders had decided on their own Vice-Presidential candidate at an internal meeting, but would announce details soon.
Although the IIM (Amendment) Bill has been cleared by the Lok Sabha, it will proceed to the Rajya Sabha for consideration. If passed, it will be a major step towards re-fashioning the regulatory architecture of India's premier management schools.
The proceedings of the day underscored not just the legislative agenda of the government but also the intensifying political jousting before the Vice-Presidential poll.
