More than half of the bills introduced in the 18th Lok Sabha so far have been passed by both Houses of Parliament during the same session in which they were introduced, according to an analysis of data from PRS Legislative Research. The trend has become increasingly pronounced over the past year, raising questions about the time available for detailed parliamentary scrutiny of proposed legislation. Of the 64 bills introduced since the constitution of the 18th Lok Sabha, 34, or about 53 per cent, have completed passage through both Houses in the session in which they were introduced, the PRS data shows. The proportion represents a substantial increase compared with the 16th Lok Sabha, when 63 of 189 bills introduced, or around 33 per cent, were passed during the same session.

The trend also increased significantly during the 17th Lok Sabha. During that five-year term, 117 of the 190 bills introduced were passed by both Houses in the same session, accounting for about 62 per cent of the total. The latest figures indicate that legislation introduced in the current Lok Sabha is increasingly moving through Parliament within the same session rather than remaining pending for consideration in subsequent sessions. The 18th Lok Sabha initially recorded a slower pace on this measure. During the Budget Session of 2026, five of the 10 bills introduced were passed by both Houses before the session concluded. The pace increased substantially during the Monsoon Session, which ended on August 13. Of the 12 bills introduced during that session, 11 were passed before it ended, while the Indian Statistical Institute Bill, 2026, remained pending.

PRS Legislative Research is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that tracks and analyses the functioning of Parliament and state legislatures. Its data provides a session-wise picture of how legislation moves through the parliamentary process, including the time taken between introduction and passage. The speed with which some bills were cleared during the latest session has drawn particular attention. According to the PRS analysis, nine bills were passed without any Member of Parliament other than the minister piloting the legislation speaking during the debate. Seven of the 11 bills that were passed during the session were cleared within five minutes or less.

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The figures highlight the limited debate that accompanied some of the legislation passed during the session. Parliamentary debate allows MPs to examine provisions, raise concerns, seek clarifications and propose changes before a bill becomes law. When legislation is passed within a very short period, the opportunity for detailed discussion on its provisions can consequently be limited. The increase in same-session passage does not, by itself, establish that bills were improperly considered or that every measure required a longer parliamentary process. Some legislation can be relatively technical, narrowly focused or straightforward, while other bills may require substantially more examination because of their legal, economic or social implications.

However, the pattern identified by PRS provides an indication of how the legislative calendar has evolved across successive Lok Sabhas. The proportion rose from roughly one-third in the 16th Lok Sabha to nearly two-thirds in the 17th, while more than half of the bills introduced so far in the 18th Lok Sabha have already followed the same-session route. The figures from the Monsoon Session are particularly notable because nearly every bill introduced was passed before the session ended. With 11 of 12 bills completing passage, the session recorded the strongest acceleration in the current Lok Sabha on this measure. Only the Indian Statistical Institute Bill remained pending at the end of the session.

The data also puts the pace of legislative business in the context of the broader debate over parliamentary scrutiny. The balance between efficient lawmaking and adequate consideration of legislation has long been an important feature of parliamentary functioning. The increasing number of bills being introduced and passed within the same session means the amount of time available for MPs to examine and debate proposed laws remains an important issue. As the 18th Lok Sabha progresses, the trend will become clearer as more legislation is introduced and considered. For now, the PRS figures show that same-session passage has become a significant feature of the current Parliament, with the pace particularly evident during the latest Monsoon Session.

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