The Winter Session of Parliament concluded on Friday, 19 December 2025, after passing eight critical bills amidst intense debates on economic and electoral reforms.

Both Houses recorded exceptional productivity, with the Lok Sabha at 110 per cent and the Rajya Sabha at 121 per cent, marked by the passage of the G RAM G Bill which replaces MGNREGA. Key legislations included reforms in insurance FDI, nuclear energy, and excise duties.

While the government hailed the session as a “success for development,” the opposition staged protests and tore papers over the G RAM G Bill, leading to a midnight session in the Rajya Sabha.

Economic Overhaul

The session was heavily defined by a financial agenda aimed at attracting global capital and modernising infrastructure. A major breakthrough was the Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha Bill, which raised the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) limit in insurance from 74 per cent to 100 per cent.

The government argues this will deepen social security coverage and bring in long-term technology transfers. Simultaneously, the SHANTI Bill was passed, historic for opening India’s civil nuclear energy sector to private entities.

This move is seen as vital for the “Viksit Bharat” energy transition, though it prompted sharp exchanges regarding the safety and oversight of private nuclear operations.

G RAM G Bill and Pollution

A significant point of friction was the Viksit Bharat – G RAM G Bill, which replaces the MGNREGA scheme. The opposition vociferously demanded that the bill be sent to a Standing Committee, alleging it would dilute the employment guarantee for rural workers.

The tension peaked on Friday as the Rajya Sabha sat past midnight to clear the legislation amidst “paper tearing” and slogans. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju expressed regret that this “ruckus” prevented a scheduled full-day discussion on air pollution.

The government claimed it was ready to address the smog crisis, but the chaos over the employment bill rendered the debate impossible.

Taxes and Market Codes

Beyond the headline-grabbing reforms, the session passed several technical but impactful laws. The Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill was cleared to implement GST Council decisions, including a plan to consolidate rates into two main slabs of 5 per cent and 18 per cent.

Meanwhile, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduced the Securities Markets Code (SMC) Bill, which seeks to merge three-decade-old laws into a single unified statute for capital markets.

Although referred to a Standing Committee for deeper scrutiny, the SMC Bill represents a massive effort to simplify India’s regulatory landscape for domestic and foreign investors.

Electoral Reforms

In a rare moment of procedural agreement, the government and opposition paused their hostilities to hold a structured discussion on electoral reforms. This was a departure from the Monsoon Session, which was crippled by demands for a special revision of electoral rolls.

Additionally, both Houses participated in a special commemorative debate marking the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram. While the treasury benches framed the debate as a celebration of national pride, the opposition questioned the timing, suggesting it was used to bypass more pressing socioeconomic issues.

The session ended with 10 bills introduced in the Lok Sabha and 8 successfully clearing both Houses.

Parliament Winter Session Bills

The 2025 Winter Session was high on the legislative agenda, with the government successfully passing eight diverse bills that range from structural rural reforms to opening the nuclear sector to private players.

• Viksit Bharat – G RAM G Bill, 2025: Replaces the MGNREGA scheme. It increases the statutory guarantee of wage employment from 100 to 125 days per rural household and shifts the funding model to a 60:40 Centre-State ratio.
• SHANTI Bill, 2025: Short for Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India. It repeals the Atomic Energy Act of 1962 and allows private and foreign entities to build and operate nuclear power plants for the first time.
• Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Insurance Laws Amendment) Bill, 2025: Aimed at achieving “Insurance for All by 2047,” this bill raises the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) limit in insurance companies from 74 per cent to 100 per cent.
• The Health Security Se National Security Cess Bill, 2025: A money bill that levies a specific cess on tobacco manufacturing to augment resources for public health and national security infrastructure.
• The Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025: Rationalises the duty structure on tobacco products. It replaces the GST compensation cess with a higher excise duty, increasing rates significantly on cigarettes and chewing tobacco.
• Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025: Consolidates existing GST slabs in Manipur into two main brackets, 5 per cent and 18 per cent, to simplify the tax structure in the state.
• The Appropriation (No. 4) Bill, 2025: A money bill that authorises the government to withdraw funds from the Consolidated Fund of India for the current financial year’s supplementary grants.
• The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2025: An ordinary bill that simplifies the legal code by repealing 71 obsolete laws and making minor amendments to four others to improve the ease of governance.

The Logical Indian’s Perspective

At The Logical Indian, we believe that while high productivity numbers are impressive, the true test of Parliament is the inclusiveness of its dialogue.

It is heartening to see a record of over 100 per cent productivity, yet the midnight passage of a bill as crucial as G RAM G, without consensus, leaves room for concern.

Replacing a safety net like MGNREGA requires the highest level of transparency and empathy for the rural poor. Furthermore, the loss of a debate on air pollution is a missed opportunity for a national health emergency.