The
Winter Session of Parliament, which began on December 1, had a rocky first week, with repeated disruptions in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. Parliamentarians clashed over several issues, including former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar’s sudden exit, Delhi-NCR’s worsening air quality, and the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
On the first day itself, Lok Sabha proceedings were stalled three times between 11 am and 2 pm, leaving only about 50 minutes of actual legislative work. While the government accused the opposition of blocking business, opposition MPs demanded urgent discussions on the SIR exercise and Delhi’s toxic air. In the Rajya Sabha, opposition members staged a walkout seeking a dedicated debate on the electoral roll revision.
Key issues raised
Air Quality Crisis in Delhi-NCR: MPs raised alarms as the AQI breached the “severe” 400-plus mark. MP D. Deo said the toxic air was affecting “crores of people,” including children, senior citizens, and those with respiratory illnesses, criticizing development that harms the environment.
Economic Concerns: Outside Parliament, Congress president and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge highlighted the rupee falling past ₹90 per US dollar. “Rupee is weakening due to their policies… our currency has no value in the world today,” he said, blaming the government for mismanaging the economy.
Atomic Energy Bill 2025: MoS Science & Technology Jitendra Singh said the bill is in an “advanced stage,” with inter-ministerial suggestions and legal vetting being incorporated. Concerns raised by MPs will be addressed before final approval.
Despite the disruptions, the government is pushing to clear a reform-heavy legislative agenda during the December 1–19 session.
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Key Bills on the agenda
1. Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025 – Proposes raising FDI in insurance from 74% to 100%, following Rs 82,000 crore in sectoral FDI.
2. New Tax Structure for Tobacco and Pan Masala – Includes the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and Health Security and National Security Cess Bill, 2025, aiming to replace the GST compensation cess with a central excise duty and introduce a health security cess earmarked for public health and national security.
3. Securities Markets Code Bill, 2025 – Seeks to merge three securities laws into one unified code to streamline compliance and improve ease of doing business.
4. Jan Vishwas Bill, 2025 – Currently with a Select Committee, targeting decriminalisation of minor offences and reducing regulatory burdens.
5. Other Bills – Amendments to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, Manipur GST changes, National Highways regulatory updates, and corporate law reforms.
Truce on SIR debate
After days of confrontation, the government agreed to hold a debate on the Special Intensive Revision under a broader discussion on election reforms. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said:
December 8: Special debate on Vande Mataram
December 9: Debate on Election Reforms, including SIR
10 hours allocated to each discussion, with room for extension.
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