Parliament Watch
Winter Session 2025

Surya Pratap Singh Naruka
Surya Pratap Singh Naruka

Published on: Feb 2, 2026

Khushboo Chaudhary
Khushboo Chaudhary

Updated on: Feb 2, 2026

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The Sixth Session of the Eighteenth Lok Sabha (Winter Session, 2025) was held from 1 to 19 December 2025 and comprised 15 sittings spread over 19 days, with total working time of 92 hours and 25 minutes. The Lok Sabha recorded a productivity of about 111 percent, while the Rajya Sabha achieved approximately 121 percent productivity, reflecting a highly productive session:

  1. During the session, 10 Government Bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha, of which 8 were passed and subsequently cleared by both Houses of Parliament. Key legislations passed included amendments to GST and Central Excise laws, the Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, the Appropriation (No. 4) Bill for 2025-26, the Repealing and Amending Bill, amendments to insurance laws under the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha framework, the Nuclear Energy Bill aimed at advancing peaceful nuclear applications, and the Viksit Bharat- Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill providing a statutory guarantee of rural wage employment.
  2. The session also saw the referral of the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill to a Joint Committee and the Securities Markets Code Bill to a Standing Committee.

The House also undertook extensive deliberations on two important national issues:

  1. A special discussion to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the national song “Vande Mataram” was initiated by the Prime Minister and continued for 11 hours and 32 minutes in the Lok Sabha with participation of 65 Members, while a parallel discussion was held in the Rajya Sabha.
  2. Electoral Reforms were debated over two days in the Lok Sabha for nearly 13 hours with participation of over 60 Members, and further discussed in the Rajya Sabha, highlighting sustained parliamentary focus on democratic reforms.

In addition, the first batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2025–26 was discussed and approved, followed by the passage of the related Appropriation Bill.

Parliamentary oversight and members’ participation remained robust during the session. A total of 300 starred questions were admitted, of which 72 were answered orally, along with 3,449 unstarred questions. Members raised 408 matters of urgent public importance during Zero Hour and 372 matters under Rule 377. The House witnessed 38 ministerial statements, 2,116 papers laid on the Table, and the presentation of 41 reports of Parliamentary Standing Committees. As regards Private Members’ business, 137 Private Members’ Bills were introduced, and one Private Members’ Resolution was withdrawn after discussion.

The Winter Session concluded with the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha being adjourned sine die on 19 December 2025, marking the completion of a substantive and productive parliamentary sitting.

S.No. Name of the Bill Bill Category Bill Reference No. Preamble Object & Purpose Lok Sabha Rajya Sabha Presidential Assent Act No. and Year
Introduction Date Passing Date Introduction Date Passing Date
1 The Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025 Money Bill No. 140-F of 2025 A Bill further to amend the Manipur Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017. To align with the Finance Act, 2025 (Sections 121 to 134) and the recommendations of the 56th GST Council, this Bill seeks to amend the Manipur GST Act, 2017 to ensure consistency with the Central GST framework and avoid legal repugnancy. Given that the State of Manipur has been under Presidential Proclamation (Article 356) since February 13, 2025, and as Parliament was not in session, the Manipur GST (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 was promulgated on October 7, 2025, to address the immediate necessity for legislative continuity. The present Bill is proposed to replace the said Ordinance with a formal Act of Parliament to secure the legal basis for the levy and collection of intra-State tax on goods and services. Dec 01, 2025 Dec 01, 2025 NA Dec 02, 2025 Dec 10, 2025 No. 33 of 2025
2 The Health Security Se National Security Cess Bill, 2025 Money Bill No. 142-F of 2025 A Bill to augment the resources for meeting expenditure on national security and for public health, and to levy a cess for the said purposes on the machines installed or other processes undertaken by which specified goods are manufactured or produced and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The Bill proposes the levy of a dual-purpose cess on the manufacture of pan masala to fund public health and national security initiatives. Departing from traditional output-based taxation, the levy is linked to the installed production capacity of machines or processes, whether manual or hybrid, rather than actual quantities produced. Under the proposed framework, taxable persons are required to self-declare all production units per premises, with the aggregate cess calculated by location. To ensure enforcement, the Bill empowers proper officers to verify and recalibrate these declarations through prescribed technological and inspection-based monitoring mechanisms. Dec 01, 2025 Dec 05, 2025 NA Dec 08, 2025 Dec 15, 2025 No. 35 of 2025
3 The Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025 Money Bill No. 143 of 2025 A Bill further to amend the Central Excise Act, 1944. Following the implementation of GST on July 1, 2017, the Central Excise Act, 1944 was repealed except for goods under Entry 84 of List I, notably tobacco and tobacco products. While excise rates were initially reduced to accommodate the Compensation Cess, this cess is slated for discontinuation once related loan and interest liabilities are fully discharged. To preserve tax incidence and provide the Government with the necessary fiscal space to adjust duties upward upon the cessation of the cess, this Bill proposes to substitute the tariff table in Section IV of the Fourth Schedule to the Central Excise Act, 1944. This amendment ensures the legal framework is prepared for a revised excise structure on tobacco products. Dec 01, 2025 Dec 03, 2025 NA Dec 04, 2025 Dec 12, 2025 No. 34 of 2025
4 The Appropriation (No.4) Bill, 2025 Money Bill No. 150 of 2025 A Bill to authorise payment and appropriation of certain further sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India for the services of the financial year 2025-26. The Bill is introduced under Articles 114(1) and 115 of the Constitution to authorize the appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Fund of India. It provides for meeting the supplementary expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund and the grants approved by the Lok Sabha for the Central Government's expenditure during the financial year 2024-25. Dec 15, 2025 Dec 15, 2025 NA Dec 16, 2025 Dec 20, 2025 No. 38 of 2025
5 The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2025 Ordinary Bill No. 193-F of 2025 A Bill to repeal certain enactments and to amend certain other enactments. This Bill is a periodic legislative measure designed to excise enactments that have become obsolete, ceased to be in force, or are no longer necessary as independent Acts. Beyond mere repeal, the Bill facilitates the correction of formal defects and incorporates minor amendments detected in existing statutes. Detailed justifications for specific amendments are provided within the Second Schedule, while Clause 4 includes standard savings and precautionary provisions typical of such corrective legislation to ensure legal continuity and prevent unintended consequences. Dec 15, 2025 Dec 16, 2025 NA Dec 17, 2025 Dec 20, 2025 No. 37 of 2025
6 The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025 Financial Bill No. 194 of 2025 A Bill to enable and empower the Universities and other higher educational institutions to achieve excellence in teaching, learning, research and innovation, through co-ordination and determination of standards in institutions for higher education or research and scientific and technical institutions, and for that purpose to constitute a Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan, to facilitate the Universities and other higher educational institutions to become independent self-governing institutions and to promote excellence through a robust and transparent system of accreditation and autonomy, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

In alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the constitutional mandate under Entry 66 of the Union List, this Bill proposes a comprehensive overhaul of the higher education regulatory framework to replace the existing system of over-regulation and duplicated control. The Bill seeks to establish the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan as an apex umbrella body supported by three specialized councils i.e., the Regulatory Council, the Accreditation Council, and the Standards Council which will collectively ensure a "light but tight" governance model based on integrity, transparency, and autonomy.

This legislative measure involves the repeal of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, the All India Council for Technical Education Act, 1987, and the National Council for Teacher Education Act, 1993, while redefining the Council of Architecture as a Professional Standard Setting Body. By centralizing oversight through a technology-driven single-window system for public self-disclosure, the Bill aims to harmonize regulatory protocols, improve the Gross Enrolment Ratio, and empower institutions to achieve global excellence.

Ultimately, the legislation intends to create a flexible, inter-disciplinary educational ecosystem that fosters innovation and prepares future generations for the aspirational goals of a Viksit Bharat.

Dec 15, 2025
Referred to Joint Committee
NA NA NA NA NA
7 The Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025 Financial Bill No. 195-F of 2025 A Bill further to amend the Insurance Act, 1938, the Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956, and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999. The Bill seeks to modernize the four-pillared legislative framework of India's insurance sector comprising the Insurance Act, 1938, the IRDA Act, 1999, the LIC Act, 1956, and GIBNA, 1972. Recognizing that the industry has expanded significantly over two decades, the Bill introduces forward-looking reforms intended to accelerate growth and cater to an evolving economy. Its primary objectives include enhancing policyholder protection and awareness, improving transparency in the governance of both insurers and the regulator, and streamlining the ease of doing business for stakeholders and intermediaries. By amending the Insurance, LIC, and IRDA Acts, the legislation aims to foster a more trusted, transparent, and operationally efficient ecosystem that supports the national goal of universal insurance coverage. Dec 16, 2025 Dec 16, 2025 NA Dec 17, 2025 Dec 20, 2025 No. 40 of 2025
8 The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Bill, 2025 Financial Bill No. 196-F of 2025 A Bill to provide for the promotion and development of nuclear energy and ionising radiation for nuclear power generation, application in healthcare, food, water, agriculture, industry, research, environment, innovation in nuclear science and technology, for the welfare of the people of India, and for robust regulatory framework for its safe and secure utilisation and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. This Bill seeks to replace the Atomic Energy Act, 1962 and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010 to modernize India’s nuclear legal framework. Aimed at achieving 100 GW of nuclear capacity by 2047 and supporting the 2070 net-zero target, the Bill transitions the sector from a government-exclusive domain to one involving active public and private sector participation. It introduces a comprehensive licensing and safety authorization regime for nuclear production while exempting research and innovation from such requirements to foster technological advancement. Beyond power generation, the Bill regulates the application of nuclear technology in healthcare, agriculture, and industry, ensuring these non-power uses align with international safety and security standards. Furthermore, Section 39 of the Bill empowers the government to classify sensitive nuclear data as "restricted," overriding the Right to Information Act, 2005, to safeguard national security as the sector expands. Dec 15, 2025 Dec 17, 2025 NA Dec 18, 2025 Dec 20, 2025 No. 39 of 2025
9 The Viksit Bharat- Guarantee for Rozgaar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): VB- G RAM G Bill, 2025 Financial Bill No. 197-F of 2025 A Bill to establish a rural development framework aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, by providing a statutory guarantee of one hundred and twenty-five days of wage employment in every financial year to every rural household whose adult members volunteer to undertake unskilled manual work; to promote empowerment, growth, convergence and saturation for a prosperous and resilient rural Bharat; and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.

The Bill seeks to modernize India’s rural employment framework to align with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. Building upon the evolution of previous schemes from the Rural Manpower Programme of the 1960s to the Mahatma Gandhi NREGA of 2005, this legislation acknowledges the profound socio-economic transformation and digital deepening in rural India. The Bill proposes to enhance the statutory wage-employment guarantee from 100 to 125 days per financial year for every rural household volunteering for unskilled manual work. It transitions rural infrastructure development from fragmented provisioning to an integrated, "Whole-of-Government" approach, utilizing the PM Gati Shakti platform and the Viksit Bharat National Rural Infrastructure Stack for geospatial and digital planning.

To balance the enhanced guarantee with the needs of the agrarian economy, the Bill empowers States to notify "no-work" periods during peak sowing and harvesting seasons to ensure the availability of farm labor. Implementation will be through a Centrally Sponsored Scheme based on normative allocations to States using objective parameters, with costs exceeding these allocations borne by the respective State Governments. Governance is fortified through a multi-tier structure involving Central and State Gramin Rozgar Guarantee Councils, while transparency is mandated via biometric authentication, mobile dashboards, and weekly public disclosures. Furthermore, the Bill preserves the right to an unemployment allowance if work is not provided within the prescribed timeframe and maintains current wage rates until new ones are specifically notified under this Act.

Dec 16, 2025 Dec 18, 2025 NA Dec 19, 2025 Dec 20, 2025 No. 36 of 2025
10 The Securities Markets Code, 2025 Financial Bill No. 200 of 2025 A Bill to consolidate and amend the laws relating to the securities markets and for matter connected therewith or incidental thereto.

The Bill seeks to consolidate and modernize India’s financial regulatory landscape by repealing and replacing three decades-old statutes: the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956, the SEBI Act, 1992, and the Depositories Act, 1996. Recognizing the shift toward technology-driven markets, the Code introduces a principle-based framework designed to reduce compliance burdens, eliminate redundant concepts, and harmonize regulatory procedures. It strengthens the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) by mandating a transparent, consultative process for subordinate legislation, requiring periodic regulatory impact assessments, and enforcing strict conflict-of-interest disclosures for Board members. Furthermore, the Code streamlines enforcement by ensuring an arm’s-length separation between investigation and adjudication, establishing strict timelines for interim orders to prevent delayed justice.

To enhance the ease of doing business, the Code decriminalizes minor procedural lapses, converting them into civil penalties scaled to unlawful gains, while maintaining severe deterrents for market abuse. Investor protection is bolstered through the introduction of an Ombudsperson for centralized grievance redressal and a formal Regulatory Sandbox to facilitate innovation in financial products. Additionally, the Bill establishes an inter-regulatory framework for seamless listing and amends related statutes including the Economic Offences (Inapplicability of Limitation) Act, 1974, PMLA, 2002, Fugitive Economic Offenders Act, 2018, and the Mediation Act, 2023, ensuring a unified and self-reliant ecosystem for capital mobilization.

Dec 18, 2025
Referred to Standing Committee of Finance
NA NA NA NA NA

Disclaimer: The author has exercised utmost caution in presenting the information contained herein, striving to ensure accuracy and correctness to the best of their ability. However, should there be any inadvertent errors, they are unintentional and result from oversight. The author disclaims any liability for such errors and encourages readers to verify facts independently for complete assurance.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The content of this article is not intended to create and receipt of it does not constitute any relationship. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional legal counsel.

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