Winter Session of Parliament begins today; here's what to expect
What's the story
The Winter Session of Parliament will commence on Monday, with the government planning to introduce 14 bills. Among these are the Atomic Energy Bill, the Higher Education Commission of India Bill, and bills to levy excise duty and cess on tobacco, tobacco products, and pan masala. The session is expected to be contentious, as the opposition has demanded discussions on various issues, including Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and national security after a recent Delhi blast.
Session dynamics
Government seeks cooperation, opposition accuses it of undermining democracy
The government has sought cooperation from opposition parties for the smooth functioning of both Houses during this session. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju emphasized that "every issue can be discussed here" but added that there are defined procedures and rules to follow. Meanwhile, Congress and other parties have accused the Centre of trying to undermine democracy by shortening the session's duration.
Agenda
Opposition plans to raise multiple issues during session
The opposition also intends to seek debates on air pollution, economic security, and India's foreign policy, while the government has pushed for a discussion on Vande Mataram's 150th anniversary. The ruling NDA is pushing ahead with key bills and reforms after its recent victory in the Bihar Assembly polls. This is the first session after those elections, and the results are expected to influence the legislative dynamics in both Houses.
Pre-session discussions
All-party meeting discusses SIR, national security, labour codes
On Sunday, an all-party meeting chaired by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh discussed SIR and national security issues. Leaders from 36 political parties attended the meeting. However, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh termed it "a mere formality," criticizing the government's approach to listing bills for passage without proper consultation. Samajwadi Party leader Ramgopal Yadav threatened to disrupt Parliament if no discussion on SIR is held.
Session timeline
Winter session to conclude on December 19
Discussion and voting on the first batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for the year 2025-26 is also expected to be taken up. Other bills on the government's list include the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025; the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025; the Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025 to replace an ordinance; the Repealing and Amending Bill, 2025; among others. The session will conclude on December 19 and will have 15 sittings.