August 2025 proved to be one of the most consequential months in recent parliamentary history. Despite protests and disruptions during the Monsoon Session, Parliament passed a slew of critical legislation spanning taxation, sports, maritime law, gaming, education, and political accountability. Here’s your comprehensive breakdown—without the technical detours.

As the session kicked off, the Lok Sabha began its sprint from the very first week of August. On August 6, the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2025 received the green signal from the Lower House. Within days, it was also cleared by the Rajya Sabha, effectively replacing the archaic 1958 act. This update aligns India’s maritime laws with international conventions, addresses seafarer welfare, enhances environmental protection, and streamlines emergency response protocols.

Meanwhile, the Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 2025 was also ratified by the Rajya Sabha on August 11, bringing Indian cargo transport laws in sync with global standards like the Hague–Visby and Hamburg Rules. It modernizes liability norms, enables electronic bills of lading, and reinforces liability provisions for shippers, carriers, and consignees. 

On August 11, Parliament ushered in two transformative sports governance bills. The National Sports Governance Act, 2025 creates a statutory framework to instill transparency, ethics, and structured grievance redressal in national sports federations. Alongside it, the National Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill, 2025 strengthens India’s anti-doping framework, aligning it with global benchmarks as the country eyes hosting major international events, including the Olympics. 

That same day, the Income-tax (No. 2) Bill, 2025 was introduced and speedily passed in Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha followed suit on August 12, and it received Presidential assent later in the month, becoming the Income-Tax Act, 2025. This sweeping reform replaces the six-decade-old tax framework, consolidates provisions, introduces a unified “Tax Year,” and empowers faceless digital assessments starting April 1, 2026, aiming for simplicity and reduced litigation. 

Also Read: Income Tax (No 2) Bill, 2025 – India’s New SIMPLE Tax Law

Equally momentous was the passage of the Indian Ports Act, 2025 on August 12, which replaces the colonial-era 1908 Ports Act. It establishes modern port governance through new institutional mechanisms like Maritime State Development Councils and State Maritime Boards, while strengthening environmental norms, navigational safety, and data transparency across major and non-major ports.

Also Read: Indian Ports Bill 2025 Passed in Rajya Sabha

On August 12, Parliament also cleared the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2025, facilitating state-level autonomy in mineral exploration and easing norms for strategic and critical minerals.

The following day, August 19, another landmark bill saw the light of day: the Indian Institutes of Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025. Once passed by both Houses, this will sanction an IIM in Guwahati—Assam’s first and the second in Northeast India—providing a major boost to regional higher education access. 

Meanwhile, the Readjustment of Representation of Scheduled Tribes in Assembly Constituencies of Goa Act, 2025 was notified on August 13, reorganizing electoral boundaries following the extension of ST status to additional communities in Goa.

Then came August 20 and 21, when Parliament passed two headline-making bills: the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, which bans real-money online games, aiming to curb addiction and financial harm; and the Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill, 2025, along with related amendments, enabling automatic removal of elected executive members (PM, CMs, ministers) if detained for 30 consecutive days under serious charges—no conviction required. These amendments sparked debate over political accountability vs. potential misuse. 

Also Read: Critical Analysis: Online Gaming Bill 2025

At a Glance: August 2025 Bills Passed

• Merchant Shipping Act, 2025 – modernizes maritime safety & maritime law.

• Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 2025 – updates bills of lading, shipper/carrier liabilities.

• National Sports Governance Act, 2025 & Anti-Doping (Amendment) Bill – reform sports governance and doping laws.

• Income-Tax Act, 2025 – comprehensive income tax overhaul.

• Indian Ports Act, 2025 – port regulation overhaul for environment and efficiency.

• Mines & Minerals Amendment Bill, 2025 – mineral exploration liberalization.

• IIM (Amendment) Bill, 2025 – approves an IIM in Assam.

• Goa ST Representation Act, 2025 – redraws Goa assembly seats for ST communities.

• Online Gaming Act, 2025 – bans real-money online gaming nationwide.

• Constitution (130th Amendment) Bill and related UT/JK Amendments – allow removal after 30-day detention.

In just one month, Parliament pushed through key reforms aiming to improve governance, modernize infrastructure and tax laws, regulate emerging digital sectors, and even recalibrate democratic accountability—despite protests dominating the session. Across maritime, sports, finance, education, and technology, the August 2025 monsoon session was a legislative marathon that will shape India’s policy landscape for years to come. 

Stay alert—each of these laws will roll out rules, institutional mechanisms, and public notices. Bookmark Student Patrika for deep dives: tax law implications, port governance changes, sports administration shifts, and yes, how the Online Gaming ban affects job seekers and state economies.

Let me know which bill you'd like analyzed next—tax reforms, the Online Gaming ban, or the new Sports Governance Act?