Digest for 20 July, 2025
China Begins Construction on World's Largest Dam on Brahmaputra River
China has formally commenced construction of a massive $167.8 billion hydropower dam on the Brahmaputra River (Yarlung Zangbo) in Tibet, near the Indian border in Arunachal Pradesh. The project, expected to generate over 300 billion kWh annually, is the world's biggest infrastructure project. Its location has raised significant strategic, environmental, and water-security concerns for downstream nations India and Bangladesh, which rely heavily on the river's flow.
India Plans Major Policy Shift to Allow Private Investment in Nuclear Power
India is set to amend its atomic energy and nuclear liability laws to facilitate private sector investment in the civil nuclear segment. The government aims to address corporate concerns about liability and attract global investment to meet an ambitious target of generating 100 GW of nuclear power by 2047. This major policy overhaul is deemed crucial for India's goal of becoming a developed nation and is more complex than the recent opening of the space sector.
Simplified Income Tax Bill to Be Tabled in Parliament's Monsoon Session
A parliamentary committee's report on the new Income Tax Bill, 2025, is scheduled to be tabled in the Lok Sabha on July 21. The bill aims to replace the complex, six-decade-old Income Tax Act with a simplified law that is half its size. By reducing sections from 819 to 536 and using plainer language, the reform seeks to enhance tax certainty, minimise litigation, and streamline compliance for all taxpayers, marking a significant overhaul of India's direct tax system.
Supreme Court to Hear Presidential Reference on Bill Assent Deadlines
A five-judge Supreme Court Constitution Bench will hear a Presidential Reference on July 22 concerning its recent verdict that set deadlines for Governors and the President to assent to state bills. The President has sought the court's opinion on whether it can impose such timelines without explicit constitutional provisions. The hearing will address fundamental questions about judicial review, separation of powers, and the limits of executive authority over state legislation, carrying major constitutional implications.
Government and Opposition Set Agenda for Contentious Monsoon Session
The government convened an all-party meeting ahead of Parliament's Monsoon Session, which begins July 21, to outline its legislative agenda and seek cooperation. The session is poised to be contentious, as the INDIA bloc opposition parties have resolved to corner the government on several fronts, including the investigation into the Pahalgam terror attack, US President Trump's claims of brokering an India-Pakistan 'ceasefire', and alleged irregularities in Bihar's special voter roll revision.