Parliament Winter Session 2025 Live Updates: Om Birla holds meeting with PM Modi, MPs post-session huddle; LS, RS adjourned sine die

On Opposition's protest VB- G RAM G Bill 2025 passed by Parliament, Union minister SP Singh Baghel said "This bill is in the interests of labourers, rural development. Parliament has passed the bill after extensive debate...The ruckus being created by the opposition is not good for democracy"

Reacting to the passage of the VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025, Congress MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said the opposition had no objection to Parliament passing legislation, but strongly criticised the removal of Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the scheme.

"They may pass as many Bills as they want. We have no objection but dropping the name of Mahatma Gandhi is wrong...We worship Lord Ram but Mahatma Gandhi is the Father of Nation. State Govts will bear 40% of the financial burden. But they do not have money...I think Modi sahab wants employment to shut down. So, States have been give 40% financial burden," he told ANI.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die on Friday, bringing the curtains down on the 19-day Winter Session of Parliament, which saw 15 sittings and the passage of several key legislations.

Among the major Bills cleared was one aimed at opening up the civil nuclear sector to private companies. The House also passed the VB-G RAM G Bill, which seeks to replace the MNREGA framework with a new law guaranteeing 125 days of employment for rural households. The Bill was passed on Thursday amid noisy opposition protests, including the tearing of papers in the House.

The session witnessed two high-voltage debates — one marking 150 years of *Vande Mataram* and another on election reforms — both of which unfolded in a politically charged atmosphere.

A Bill proposing the creation of a higher education regulator was referred to a joint committee of both Houses, while another Bill on the market securities code was introduced and sent to a department-related standing committee for detailed scrutiny.

As proceedings began on the final day, Speaker Om Birla adjourned the Lok Sabha sine die, or for an indefinite period. He later said the House recorded a productivity of 111 per cent during the Winter Session.

Opposition parties staged a 12-hour overnight dharna in the Parliament complex on Thursday night to protest the passage of the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, or VB-G RAM G Bill, which replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act.

The protest came hours after Parliament cleared the Bill amid noisy scenes and walkouts. The Rajya Sabha passed the legislation post midnight by a voice vote, following its approval by the Lok Sabha earlier in the day, even as opposition members demanded its withdrawal and sought its referral to a parliamentary panel.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed strong disapproval over the renaming of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), saying the move "takes out the heart of the entire Mahatma Gandhi rural employment program."

The remarks came as Parliament passed the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, with the Rajya Sabha approving the legislation following Lok Sabha's nod.

Speaking to mediapersons, Tharoor said, "We are unhappy about that for various reasons. It really takes out the heart of the entire Mahatma Gandhi rural employment program..."

On Tuesday, Tharoor claimed that attempting to include "Ram" while removing Mahatma Gandhi's name is a disrespect to both names.

Referencing an iconic Kishore Kumar song from the 1970s titled 'Ram ka Naam Badnam Na Karo', Tharoor opposed the inclusion of multiple languages in the bill (Hindi and English), while the Constitution calls for only one language to be used.

"For Mahatma Gandhi, Gram Swaraj and Ram Rajya ek hi hai, toh isme Mahatma Gandhi ka naam hatana theek nahi tha, aur hatane ke baad yeh constitution ke viroodh hai, strictly speaking, aur eske baad G Ram G kehena. Ram ka naam toh bahut dusre context mein istemaal kar sakenge. Magar Mahatma Gandhi ka naam hatane ke liye, islliye mene kaha ki who Ram ka naam badnaam kar rahe hai. (The Bill's name is not right because 2 languages have been used while one language should be used according to the constitution. Removing Mahatma Gandhi's name is not inherently problematic, but they used multiple languages to include 'RAM' in it. This is not a serious matter. Mahatma Gandhi used to speak about Ram Rajya, and the vision of Ram Rajya and Gram Swaraj was one for him. Ram Rajya will prevail in our country when Gram Swaraj is there... We can use the name of Lord Ram in various contexts, but removing Mahatma Gandhi's name? This is why I said don't insult the name of Lord Ram, but they did the same," Tharoor said.

"The passing of the SHANTI Bill by both Houses of Parliament marks a transformational moment for our technology landscape. My gratitude to MPs who have supported its passage. From safely powering AI to enabling green manufacturing, it delivers a decisive boost to a clean-energy future for the country and the world. It also opens numerous opportunities for the private sector and our youth. This is the ideal time to invest, innovate and build in India," said PM Modi.

Parliament on Thursday passed the nuclear energy bill, with the Rajya Sabha giving its nod to the legislation that seeks to open the tightly-controlled civil nuclear sector for private participation.

The Upper House passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill by a voice vote. It was passed in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Minister of State, Department of Atomic Energy, Jitendra Singh said nuclear is a reliable 24x7 power supply source, which is not so in the case of other renewable energy options.

The bill allows entry of private players into the industry, something that was reserved for government enterprises till now. Singh said that it provides for “a pragmatic civil liability regime for nuclear damage and to confer statutory status to Atomic Energy Regulatory Board."

"Several schemes have been launched for rural development and employment. The Comprehensive Rural Employment Scheme, then the Jawahar Employment Scheme, and after that, MGNREGA came along. If Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's name was not included, does that mean he was insulted?... 'Developed villages for a developed India' is Prime Minister Modi's resolve, and sufficient funds have been proposed for it," Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said.

"How much did Congress spend on MGNREGA?... We have made a comprehensive plan... Provisions for unemployment allowance have been strengthened, and it has been stated that if wages are not paid within 15 days, an additional payment of 0.05% per day will have to be made for delayed wage disbursement. Attention has been given to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Separate guarantee cards will be issued for differently-abled elderly persons, and they will receive higher wages even for less work. I don't understand what the problem is in this?" he said.

"The conduct of the opposition members in Lok Sabha today, the behaviour of the MPs from the Congress and the INDI alliance, has tarnished democracy. Parliamentary decorum has been completely disregarded...We listened carefully to what our friends in the opposition said. And today I was supposed to respond. I requested that I would answer every question, but I should be heard. But the kind of undignified behaviour that was displayed, tearing up papers, they climbed onto the tables. Isn't this a betrayal of Bapu's (Mahatma Gandhi's) ideals? I strongly condemn their actions," said Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on VB G RAM G bill.

"Many schemes have been launched for rural development and employment... I want to say that the welfare of the poor is the Bharatiya Janata Party's resolve. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, not one but many schemes exist to improve the living standards of the poor. That is why 25 crore people have risen above the poverty line," he added.

"There was supposed to be an important discussion on pollution today, but the government did not allow that discussion. The responsibility lies with the government; the government should work on how to reduce pollution in Delhi-NCR, but the government appears to be shying away from discussing this important issue," said Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav.

"We all saw in the House how the G-RAM-G 2025, now passed, will work for the welfare of the poor...Today, with a heavy heart, I have to say that the way some colleagues of the Congress party have torn apart the dignity of the House is also extremely reprehensible in the history of India. During Shivraj Singh Chouhan's speech, copies of the bill were torn into paper planes; even the students sitting in the gallery watched in astonishment, wondering what on earth was happening in the House... With great sorrow, I must say that in the tweet just posted by a Congress spokesperson, they have written 'sadn' (rotten) instead of 'sadan' for the House... This is the real murder of Mahatma Gandhi's soul, character, and ideals... The Congress party should immediately take action against the leader who wrote 'sadn' (rotten) for the House," said BJP MP Sambit Patra.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday voiced strong opposition to the VB-G-RAM-G Bill passed in the Lok Sabha, warning that it threatens the future of MGNREGA. Speaking to reporters, she said, “We will protest against this bill. With this bill, MGNREGA will end in the coming months. The moment the burden shifts to the states, this scheme will gradually end. This bill is against the poor.”

She argued that transferring financial responsibility to state governments could undermine the welfare scheme supporting millions of rural households. “Any sensible person will understand this is a clever trick involving 100 to 125 days… as soon as the burden falls on the states, the scheme will gradually come to an end,” she added.

The Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, 2025, reframes MGNREGA and guarantees 125 days of wage employment per year to rural households. Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan defended the legislation, saying it incorporates Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals and strengthens rural livelihoods. The Bill was debated for nearly 14 hours, with the opposition seeking referral to the Standing Committee, while the ruling BJP hailed it as a step towards Viksit Bharat by 2047.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day on Thursday after passing the G RAM G Bill amid loud protests by Opposition members. The VB–G RAM G Bill, 2025, which replaces MGNREGA and guarantees 125 days of rural employment, was cleared following Union minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s reply. A planned debate on Delhi-NCR air pollution was deferred.

Lok Sabha adjourned for the day after passage of G RAM G Bill amid opposition uproar over its provisions.

The Govt to introduce the Securities Markets Code Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha this afternoon. The proposed legislation seeks to consolidate and amend the laws relating to the securities markets.

Congress MP KC Venugopal says, "We are clearly demanding to stop the atrocities against the minority communities, especially the Christian community. Whenever an election comes, the BJP leaders of Kerala take a cake and try to meet the Christian leadership. But what happened in Chhattisgarh? In Madhya Pradesh? In Odisha? In Rajasthan? Now in Thiruvananthapuram? Totally condemnable and unfortunate. Yesterday, what happened in Thiruvananthapuram? They didn't allow the singing of Christmas carols, they asked that along with that song of RSS has to be sung. What is the fate of this country?...Everywhere, they are attacking Christians and minorities. They are attacking churches, priests, nuns. There is no religious freedom in this country nowadays...All these activities are being done with the support of Police and Govt machinery. So, we the entire UDF of Kerala are strongly standing against the atrocities against minorities..."

The sixth session of the 18th Lok Sabha will convene at 11am on Thursday to take up a wide range of legislative, policy and committee-related business, with particular focus on air pollution in the Delhi–National Capital Region (NCR) under Rule 193. MPs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and Bansuri Swaraj are set to raise concerns over the worsening air quality and its impact on public health in the NCR.

Proceedings will begin with obituary references to former MPs Darur Pullaiah, Prof. Mahadeorao Shiwankar, Kusuma Krishna Murthy and Shamanur Shivashankarappa. This will be followed by the Question Hour, during which members will raise issues and concerned ministers will respond.

Several ministers will lay papers on the table, including Nirmala Sitharaman and Pankaj Chaudhary from the Ministry of Finance, Jual Oram and Durgadas Uikey from the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Shripad Yesso Naik from the Ministry of Power, and Sushri Shobha Karandlaje from the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. Documents will also be tabled by ministers from Petroleum and Natural Gas, Tourism, Road Transport and Highways, Food Processing Industries, Housing and Urban Affairs, Jal Shakti, Steel and Civil Aviation.

Congress MP Manish Tewari on Thursday submitted an adjournment motion notice in the Lok Sabha, seeking an urgent discussion on widespread flight cancellations and delays by IndiGo, which he said has “stranded thousands of passengers across the country”.

In his notice, Tewari wrote, “I hereby give notice of my intention to ask for leave to move a motion for the adjournment of the business of the house adjournment for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent importance, namely; I move that this House do suspend Question Hour, Zero Hour and all other listed business of the day to take up an urgent matter of grave public importance, the ongoing chaos caused by the widespread cancellations and delays by IndiGo, has stranded thousands of passengers across the country.”

The Congress leader drew attention to the regulatory context, stating, “In January 2024, the government notified new pilot duty-time and rest-period rules- the DGCA's Flight Duty Time Limitation (FDTL) norms, well in advance, allowing all airlines ample time to adjust their rosters.” He alleged that despite this, IndiGo failed to comply, resulting in more than a thousand cancellations within days and severe disruption nationwide.

Tewari further accused the airline of negligence, saying, “This neglect not only reflects mismanagement but seems tantamount to deliberate non-compliance, forcing the government to roll back safety rules under duress.”

He urged the government to act decisively, requesting, “I urge the Government to order an immediate investigation, hold the airline accountable, ensure full refunds and compensation for affected passengers, and put in place safeguards so that public inconvenience of this scale does not recur.”

Under Rule 193 of the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, DMK MP Kanimozhi, and BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj are set to raise a discussion on air pollution in the Delhi–NCR region during the Winter Session of Parliament on Thursday.

The Lok Sabha is set to take up a discussion on air pollution affecting several parts of the country on Thursday, sources told news agency ANI. According to them, Union Environment Minister Bhupendra Yadav is expected to reply to the debate at around 5.00pm.

The discussion follows a request by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, who urged Parliament to deliberate on the issue and develop a systematic plan to tackle worsening air quality. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had earlier assured Gandhi that the government was willing to hold a discussion and consider suggestions from across party lines.

Raising the issue in the House on December 12, Gandhi warned that rising air pollution was severely impacting public health, particularly that of children. “Most of our major cities are living under a blanket of poisonous air. Millions of children are getting lung diseases. Their future is being destroyed,” he said, adding that air pollution was not an ideological matter and required cooperation between the government and the opposition.

Emphasising collaboration, Gandhi proposed a detailed parliamentary debate leading to a city-wise action plan. “It's important that the government develops a plan for how to get rid of air pollution in our cities,” he said, stressing the need for a structured, long-term approach spanning the next five to ten years.

The issue has gained urgency amid deteriorating air quality in the national capital, where the Air Quality Index stood at 334 at 4.00 pm on Wednesday, placing it firmly in the ‘very poor’ category.

Parliament on Wednesday passed the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025, with finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman asserting that liberalising the sector would attract new insurers and service providers, expand the insurance ecosystem and generate net employment. The Rajya Sabha cleared the Bill following her reply, after it was passed by the Lok Sabha a day earlier.

Responding to concerns over policyholder protection, Sitharaman said IRDAI mandates a minimum solvency ratio of 1.5, ensuring insurers’ assets are at least one-and-a-half times their liabilities. “Also, the companies have to make provisions for all 'Incurred but not reported' and 'Incurred but not enough reported' liabilities… These norms provide enough safeguards for protecting the interests of policyholders.”

She highlighted the government’s continued support for LIC, noting improved financial performance. “LIC continues to enjoy the trust of our citizens and perform well to the expectations,” she said, citing growth in assets under management, solvency margin and new business value.

Addressing fears over job losses, Sitharaman said, “Opening up the sector will attract new insurers, intermediaries, and allied service providers, expanding the overall insurance ecosystem and creating net employment.” She added that deeper markets would benefit agents and brokers through wider outreach and more products.

Rejecting claims that the Bill was rushed, she said, “We are not rushing through this Bill,” pointing to consultations with states, regulators, industry and the public.

The amendments raise the FDI limit in insurance to 100 per cent, reduce capital requirements for foreign reinsurers, expand the definition of intermediaries and amend key insurance laws. The government said the reforms align with its goal of achieving ‘Insurance for All by 2047’. Opposition members criticised the Bill, alleging it prioritises shareholders over policyholders and weakens accountability.

The Congress issued a whip in the Lok Sabha, directing its MPs to remain present in the House for the next three days as several key legislations are expected to come up for consideration and passage.

Among the major bills likely to be taken up is the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, which seeks to open India’s civil nuclear power sector to private participation and overhaul the existing liability regime.

Introduced by Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh, the bill proposes repealing the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010, and could be discussed as early as Wednesday.

The whip also comes amid sharp political sparring over the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, which aims to guarantee 125 days of rural employment every year, replacing the 20-year-old MNREGA scheme.

Introducing the bill in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the government not only believes in Mahatma Gandhi but also follows his principles. “The Narendra Modi government has done more for rural development than previous governments,” he said, adding that the legislation is likely to be taken up for discussion and passage later this week.

Opposition members, including Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi, strongly objected to the proposed law at the introduction stage, alleging the “removal” of Mahatma Gandhi’s name and demanding that the bill be referred to a parliamentary panel for detailed scrutiny.

Shashi Tharoor in a post on X wrote, "A question I didn’t get to ask in Parliament today when the subject came up, but still relevant to raise: why has the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-III (PMGSY-III) implementation in Kerala been so poor? The record raises serious concerns. Against a sanctioned road length of 1,421.06 km, as much as 688.61 km, nearly 48.5%, remains incomplete. Of the 284 roads proposed, 221 are yet to be constructed, and not a single one of the 11 long-span bridges has been built. With the deadline pushed from March 2025 to March 2026, it is imperative that the Centre accelerates implementation, clears pending sanctions, and partners closely with the State to deliver on the promise of rural connectivity."

JP Nadda on Tuesday accused the Congress and other opposition parties of misleading the public by questioning the Election Commission of India and the use of EVMs. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, he said that for years, the oversight of the Election Commission functioned under governments led by a single family, yet no objections were raised at the time.

"For years, responsibility of overseeing ECI work rested with a party controlled by a family, but no questions raised. It becomes more important for EC to hold SIR as no deletion of voters has taken place since 2010," Nadda said.

Speaking during the debate on electoral reforms in the Rajya Sabha, Union minister JP Nadda said: "It is under the constitutional power of the Election Commission to purify and rectify the voters' list from time to time."

"We must also seriously question the financial restructuring proposed in the bill. The proposal to impose 40 per cent of the financial burden directly on state governments is not merely fiscally irresponsible; it is a measure that threatens to make the entire programme unviable. This sudden and massive shift in liability will inevitably make implementation impossible for poorer states. It will lead to delays in wage payments, a reduction in the number of workdays, and ultimately the destruction of the scheme itself. This is a clear violation of fiscal federalism, which is why I believe we lack the legislative competence to undertake such a change," Shashi Tharoor said.

Tharoor also said that Mahatma Gandhi’s idea of Ram Rajya was rooted in social and economic empowerment, with Gram Swaraj and village self-reliance at its core. He argued that attaching Gandhi’s name to the original law recognised this legacy and its focus on uplifting the poorest from the grassroots, and that removing it diminishes the moral and historical grounding of the legislation.

"Father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, should not be insulted...It appears that only the name is being changed, but it might be that the scheme might be scrapped altogether," Priyanka Gandhi said, speaking on the tabled VB-G RAM G bill.

The government on Tuesday introduced the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025, in the Lok Sabha. The proposed legislation seeks to amend the Insurance Act, 1938, the Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956, and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999.

Govt introduces the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): VB - G RAM G - Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha amid protests from the Opposition members over removing name of Mahatma Gandhi from the original Act.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, speaking in the Lok Sabha, opposed the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, and urged the government not to pass it without adequate discussion. She called for the bill to be withdrawn and reintroduced after wider consultation, saying it should be referred to a Standing Committee.

"The bill should not be passed in haste, without taking the advice of the House and without any discussion. This bill should be taken back and the government should table a new bill... Mahatma Gandhi was not from my family, but he was still like a member of my family. This is the emotion of the entire nation. This bill should be sent to Standing Committee for further deliberations. No bill should be tabled and passed because of someone's obsession and prejudice," Priyanka Gandhi said.

Priyanka Gandhi, in the Lok Sabha, attacked the centre over the VB-G RAM G bill and questioned the decrease in funds and saying that it was deducted from 90% to 60%.

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday raised concerns in the Rajya Sabha over the working conditions of women frontline workers, including ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and community resource persons under the National Rural Livelihood Mission. She said that despite their significant role in implementing key government programmes, many continue to face low remuneration, heavy workloads and limited social security.

She urged the Government to work closely with the States to prioritise the following measures:

"One, filling all existing vacancies;
Two, ensuring timely remuneration to all workers;
Three, doubling the Union Government’s contribution to the pay of these frontline workers;
Four, appointing an additional ASHA worker in villages with a population greater than 2,500;
Five, doubling the number of Anganwadi workers to enable early childhood education in addition to existing nutrition and health initiatives," Sonia Gandhi said.

Congress and Opposition MPs meet Speaker to expressing concern over the sudden inclusion of Atomic bill as supplementary business for discussion in the House.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra criticised the government’s move to introduce the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, which seeks to replace MGNREGA, questioning the need to rename the scheme and the costs involved.

"I don’t understand this obsession with changing the name. It involves a lot of expenditure. I don’t understand why they are doing it unnecessarily. Secondly, under MGNREGA, a right was provided, the right to 100 days of employment for the poorest of the poor. And this bill will weaken that right. The way they have added two or three things in this bill, it seems from the outside that they have increased the number of days. Have you increased the wages?” Priyanka Gandhi was quoted as saying by PTI.