No discussions were held under Rule 193 or Rule 184, which enable debates on urgent public issues, and none of the 76 notices submitted under Rule 184 were admitted.
The Winter Session of Parliament concluded on Friday, December 19, recording a total sitting time of 92 hours and 25 minutes, even as repeated disruptions led to the loss of 18 hours and 59 minutes due to interruptions and forced adjournments. To compensate, both Houses extended proceedings by 28 hours and 17 minutes beyond the originally scheduled time.
VB-G RAM G BILL PASSED
The session was marked by the passage of several key legislations, most notably the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) Bill, which seeks to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
The new law promises 125 days of wage employment annually for rural households and triggered strong opposition protests in both Houses.
Despite demands from opposition parties to refer the bill to a Parliamentary Standing Committee, the government pushed it through after debate, passing it by voice vote in the Lok Sabha and later in the Rajya Sabha.
The bill’s passage, however, was marred by scenes of protest, including slogan shouting, tearing of bill copies, and a walkout by opposition members in the Rajya Sabha, alleging the legislation would harm the rural economy.
SHANTI BILL GETS PARLIAMENT NOD
The session also witnessed the passage of the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025, a significant policy shift that opens India’s atomic energy sector to private participation.
The move was described by the government as essential for boosting capacity, technology infusion, and long-term energy security.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the passage of the legislation, calling it a “transformational moment” in India’s growht story.
OTHER KEY LEGISLATIONS PASSED
Among other legislations cleared were the Health Security-cum-National Security Cess Bill, the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, the Appropriation Bill, and the Repealing and Amending Bill.
In total, 10 government bills were introduced during the session, of which eight were passed.
On the education front, the Lok Sabha resolved to refer the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, which proposes setting up a higher education commission, to a joint committee of Parliament.
Moved by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the resolution was adopted by voice vote.
The joint committee will comprise 21 members from the Lok Sabha and 10 from the Rajya Sabha, and is expected to submit its report by the end of the first part of the 2026 Budget Session.
The proposed commission, chaired by a presidential nominee, would subsume multiple regulators and cover all central universities and institutions, including IITs and IIMs.
Despite the legislative output, the session underscored constraints in Parliament’s oversight role.
THE QUESTION HOUR
Question Hour saw limited engagement, with only 72 of 280 starred questions answered orally. Opposition MPs flagged this decline, noting that oral questions allow supplementary queries and real-time accountability.
No discussions were held under Rule 193 or Rule 184, which enable debates on urgent public issues, and none of the 76 notices submitted under Rule 184 were admitted.
Private Members’ Bills also remained marginalised, with 137 introduced but none taken up for discussion or passage.
