Parliament Winter Session 2025 Live Updates: Om Birla holds meeting with PM Modi, MPs post-session huddle; LS, RS adjourned sine die

Imposing a limit on election expenditure is the most important electoral reforms needed, Biju Janata Dal MP Debashish Samantaray said as the Rajya Sabha resumed a debate on electoral reforms.

Participating in the discussion, Samantaray said election expenditure is something nobody talks about.

"...no one has spoken about election expenditure. I have fought five elections, within 14 days, the amount spent by a candidate is something obnoxious. Though there is a rule, a limitation to spending, everybody knows it is not true... You spend in crores," he said.

"Spending so much money, there is all chances of corruption for recovering money spent on election. For election reform, this should be considered. Not everyone has so much money to fight election," he said.

PP Suneer of the CPI said the distortion of the electoral process strikes at the root of parliamentary democracy, as he also demanded for curbing election expenditure. (PTI)

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday cited India’s strong growth and sovereign rating upgrades to counter claims that the country was a “dead economy”, telling the Lok Sabha that such upgrades would not have been possible if the economy were weak, PTI reported.

Responding to Opposition members who sought the government’s reaction to US President Donald Trump’s description of India as a “dead economy”, Sitharaman said India remains the fastest-growing major economy, recording 8.2% growth in the September quarter.

“The economy in the last 10 years has transitioned from external vulnerability to external resilience,” the minister said while replying to the Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2025-26 in the House. Read full story

The Lok Sabha passed the first batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants, authorising the government for Rs 41,455 crore additional spending in the current fiscal, including over Rs 18,000 crore expenditure towards fertiliser subsidy.

The lower house passed the first batch with gross additional expenditure of Rs 1.32 lakh crore. This includes proposals with a net cash outgo of Rs 41,455.39 crore and Rs 90,812 crore savings by the ministries/departments.

As per the Supplementary, approval of Parliament was sought for spending Rs 18,525 crore on fertiliser and related subsidies, and about Rs 9,500 crore by the Petroleum Ministry to compensate oil marketing companies for under-recoveries.

An additional Rs 1,304 crore has been earmarked for additional expenditure by the Department of Higher Education, and Rs 225 crore by the Commerce Ministry.

The Opposition MPs have demanded the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 'Atomic Energy Bill', and the VB-G RAM G Bill to Standing Committees, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said.

Ramesh stated that the three Bills require "deep study and wide consultations."

"The entire Opposition is demanding that the following three far-reaching Bills be referred to the Standing Committees concerned. We are hopeful that, in keeping with the best of Parliamentary traditions and practices, this demand will be agreed to by the Government. The Bills require deep study and wide consultations. 1. Higher Education Commission Bill 2. Atomic Energy Bill 3. G-RAM-G Bill," the Congress MP posted on X.

Centre introduced the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill and the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Bill in the Lok Sabha on Monday, while the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) or the VB-G RAM G Bill, 2025, is set to be introduced, replacing the two-decade-old Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). (ANI)

Opposition members on Monday protested against Hindi names for key legislations as education minister Dharmendra Pradhan introduced the Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill in the Lok Sabha.

Objecting to the introduction of the Bill, RSP(A) leader N K Premachandran said it was difficult for him to even pronounce the name, contending that the practice of naming Bills in Hindi was violative of Article 348(b) of the Constitution, which says legislations should have names in English.

Congress member Jothimani and DMK member T M Selvaganapathi also objected to the name of the Bill.

"I see this as an imposition of Hindi. Already, Tamil Nadu has been deprived of SSA funds just because we have opposed the three-language policy in the National Education Policy-2020," Jothimani said.

DMK leader T R Baalu also spoke against "imposition" of Hindi on southern states. (PTI)

The Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs) in India during the second quarter of calendar year 2025 fell to 16.48 lakh from 26.15 lakh in the January-March period, before showing a slight rise in the third quarter, according to data shared by the government in Parliament on Monday.

The combined FTAs for the first three quarters this year stood at 61.83 lakh, as per data shared by Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in a written response to a query in Lok Sabha.

He was asked whether the government had taken note of the decline in foreign tourist arrivals in the last quarter, and the details of the factors responsible for the decline.

In his response, the Union minister shared the quarter-wise data of FTAs till September.

The figures were: 26.15 lakh (January-March or Q1), 16.48 lakh (April-June or Q2) and 19.20 lakh (July-September).

"The decline in Foreign Tourist Arrivals is mainly due to decline in arrival from Bangladesh and several other factors, including seasonal variations in travel patterns, the prevailing geopolitical scenario, and other country-specific dynamics affecting outbound travel," Shekhawat said. (PTI)

The BCCI is not a recognised National Sports Federation (NSF), Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya stated in the Lok Sabha, reiterating a long-held status that is expected to change once the new National Sports Governance Act comes into effect next year.

Mandaviya was responding to a query from Trinamool Congress' Kolkata Dakshin representative Mala Roy.

Roy asked whether the Government intends to take control of big sports bodies such as the BCCI and the cash-strapped All India Football Federation (AIFF) for their "proper and smooth functioning."

Mandaviya reiterated that National Sports Federations (NSFs) are voluntary bodies, which are expected to follow "healthy management practices."

"Further, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is not recognised as a National Sports Federation (NSF)," Mandaviya said.

The National Sports Governance Act was passed in August this year and its rules are set to be notified soon. Mandaviya has promised full-scale implementation of the act early next year.

It has the provision for a National Sports Board (NSB) to create a stringent system of accountability and all NSFs will have to attain NSB's recognition for access to central government funding. (PTI)

The government is taking the high airfares issue seriously and wants to prevent opportunistic pricing situation and is strengthening the tariff monitoring unit of DGCA, Minister of civil aviation, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, informed the Rajya Sabha.

Responding to supplementaries during Question Hour, the minister said the government is taking the issue seriously, while noting that the surge in airfares is generally because it is a deregulated sector. He said in air travel, many stakeholders are involved including CISF.

But, the government makes an effort that passengers do not face any problems at every touchpoint to ensure that air travel is smooth, he noted. (PTI)

"....the ministry is taking it (airfares) seriously. Tariff monitoring unit of DGCA is being further strengthened. We are monitoring more domestic routes and even international routes. The government wants to prevent the opportunistic pricing situation," the minister said.

He said the surge in air prices is generally because it is a deregulated sector and there is a mismatch in the demand and supply. Naidu said that when the demand becomes too high then the prices tend to rise.

Regarding capping of prices on December 6, the minister said, "we all are aware with Indigo crisis that has happened and we all know how much distress it has caused. One major thing that has happened during the time is the capacity constraints at which Indian aviation was operating."

The government is planning to introduce a Bill in Parliament this week to raise FDI in the insurance sector to 100 per cent, with a view to providing insurance to all by 2047.

The Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Act, 2025, seeks to amend the Insurance Act, 1938, the Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956, and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999, according to the Bill circulated to members of Parliament ahead of its introduction in Parliament.

The amendment will raise the Foreign Direct Investment limit in the insurance sector from 74 per cent to 100 per cent, it said.

Despite the Bill to hike FDI in the insurance sector to 100 per cent, one of the top officials - Chairman, Managing Director, or CEO - must be an Indian citizen.

It also paves the way for the merger of a non-insurance company with an insurance company.

The Bill received the Union Cabinet's nod on Friday, paving the way for its introduction in Parliament. (PTI)

A parliamentary committee has flagged India's heavy dependence on crude oil imports and rising geopolitical risks as major challenges for the country, and urged the government to step up diversification of supply sources and strengthen risk management mechanisms.

In its report tabled in Parliament last week, the Public Undertaking Committee noted that India imports nearly 89 per cent of its crude oil requirements, making the country vulnerable to global disruptions arising from conflicts, sanctions, civil unrest in oil-producing nations and disruptions in key shipping routes such as the Suez Canal and the Red Sea.

Recent events, including the Russia-Ukraine war and tensions in West Asia, have highlighted the fragility of India's energy supply chain.

The committee recommended that Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) and state-run oil companies intensify efforts to diversify crude oil sourcing both geographically and contractually, bolster strategic petroleum reserves and develop alternative import routes.

It also called for institutionalising risk management tools such as hedging and flexible term contracts to safeguard energy security against future geopolitical shocks. (PTI)

The government introduced three new bills in the Lok Sabha on Monday, including one to open up the tightly controlled civil nuclear sector to private players.

The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, seeks to facilitate universities and other higher educational institutions to become independent and self-governing, with a robust and transparent system of accreditation and autonomy.

The Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill seeks to open the civil nuclear power sector for private participation and overhaul the liability regime.

The SHANTI Bill, introduced by Minister of State in PMO Jitendra Singh, seeks to repeal the Atomic Energy Act, 1962, and the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010.

The Repealing and Amending Bill, 2025, was introduced by Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal to repeal 71 laws which have outlived their utility in the statute books. (PTI)

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal on Monday strongly rejected Union Minister JP Nadda's demand for an apology from senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi over alleged derogatory slogans against Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the mega rally organised by the Congress against alleged 'Vote Chori' in Delhi, dismissing the controversy as "baseless drama" orchestrated by the BJP to divert attention from the opposition's successful protest at Ramlila Maidan.

Speaking to reporters, the Congress General Secretary said, "This is baseless drama they have created today because we conducted a successful rally in Delhi yesterday. I asked Kiren Rijiju ji: Did any Congress leader say anything? They said some people in the rally had said it. This is baseless. It is not our custom to use unacceptable language against any political leader, even if they are our political rivals. On the other side, we can see the language Amit Shah ji used in Parliament last week. No leader, be it from the state level or the district level, would do any such thing." (ANI)

The government is planning to introduce a Bill in Parliament this week to raise FDI in the insurance sector to 100 per cent, with a view to providing insurance to all by 2047.
The Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Act, 2025, seeks to amend the Insurance Act, 1938, the Life Insurance Corporation Act, 1956, and the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority Act, 1999, according to the Bill circulated to members of Parliament ahead of its introduction in Parliament.

The amendment will raise the Foreign Direct Investment limit in the insurance sector from 74 per cent to 100 per cent, it said. Despite the Bill to hike FDI in the insurance sector to 100 per cent, one of the top officials — Chairman, Managing Director, or CEO — must be an Indian citizen.

It also paves the way for the merger of a non-insurance company with an insurance company.

The Bill received the Union Cabinet's nod on Friday, paving the way for its introduction in Parliament. The Bill further aims to accelerate the growth and development of the insurance sector and to ensure better protection of policyholders, as per the statement of objects and reasons.

The Bill provides for the establishment of the Policyholders' Education and Protection Fund to protect policyholders' interests. It would also improve the ease of doing business for insurance companies, intermediaries, and other stakeholders, bring transparency to regulation-making, and enhance regulatory oversight over the sector, it said.

The Winter Session of Parliament witnessed chaos on Monday as the Lok Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm following an uproar by opposition MPs demanding an apology from Union home minister Amit Shah over his previous remarks.

Rajya Sabha proceedings were adjourned till 12 noon amid uproar from Treasury benches over slogans raised against Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a Congress rally in Delhi on Sunday.

Immediately after papers were laid in the Upper House, Leader of the House and Union Minister J P Nadda condemned the Congress for the slogans, saying they reflected the party's thinking.

"With pain and an agitated heart, I want to share before the House that yesterday in the Congress party rally, slogans were shouted 'Modi teri kabr khudegi, aaj nahi to kal khudegi' (Modi's grave will be dug.. if not today, then tomorrow). This type of slogan reflects the Congress party's thinking and mindset," Nadda said.

"Congress has stooped to a low level in politics, and it is unimaginable," he added.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister JP Nadda says, "Sonia Gandhi ji should apologise to the nation for slogans raised against PM Modi in the Congress rally yesterday."

"In the Congress rally yesterday, slogans were raised against PM Modi. This shows the Congress party's thinking and mentality. Saying such things against a Prime Minister is condemnable. Sonia Gandhi ji should apologise to the nation for this."

Speaker Om Birla adjourned Lok Sabha amid ruckus over "eliminate PM Modi" remark; NDA leaders demanded apology from Congress.

"This is a great honour for Bihar...This is the first time that Bihar has received such great responsibility. I thank the central leadership of the party. This is not Congress party which would revolve around Nehru family. They bring in an 80-year-old man. While we bring in a new generation. In the days to come, they will pump in fresh energy into the youth of the country," he said.

"Congress is frustrated. It can only abuse. Congress ki kabr khud gayi hai," he added.

The Himalayan Institute of Alternatives (HIAL), founded by Ladakh educator and activist Sonam Wangchuk, is doing "exemplary" work and should be granted recognition by the University Grants Commission, a Parliamentary panel has noted.

In its report tabled in Parliament, the committee headed by Congress MP Digvijaya Singh expressed its concern over pending recognition of HIAL by UGC.

The panel also recommended that the Ministry of Education closely study the HIAL model and consider how it can be replicated elsewhere through Centres of Innovation in Education or other interventions.

"During its study visit to Ladakh, the committee was impressed with the academic, research, and entrepreneurship ecosystem at the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh (HIAL), especially its success in implementing experiential education and learning rooted in local socio-cultural and ecological contexts," said the report of the Standing Committee on Education, Women, Youth and Sports.

"The committee was concerned to learn that the UGC has not yet granted recognition to HIAL and that the matter has been pending for many years now. The committee observed that HIAL has achieved a tremendous impact on the local community and received international fame through its ice stupas and other community engagement activities," it added.

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will move an Appropriation (No. 4) Bill 2025, in the Lok Sabha, seeking authorisation for the payment and appropriation of certain additional sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India for meeting the expenditure requirements of the financial year 2025-26.

According to the List of Business, the finance minister will seek the House's leave to introduce the Bill, which pertains to approving supplementary financial requirements for various government services during the current financial year. She will also move that the Bill be taken into consideration and passed.

Under Papers to be laid on the table, several Union ministers are scheduled to place official documents before the House. These include Gajendra Singh Shekhawat for the Ministry of Culture; Jayant Chaudhary for the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and the Ministry of Education; Pankaj Chaudhary for the Ministry of Finance; Shobha Karandlaje for the Ministry of Labour and Employment; Kirti Vardhan Singh for the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Suresh Gopi for the Ministry of Tourism; Sukanta Majumdar for the Ministry of Education; and Harsh Malhotra for the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. The papers are printed on a separate list.

The House will also witness the presentation of reports of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) for 2025-26. KC Venugopal and Magunta Sreenivasulu Reddy will present the Thirty-fourth Report on the subject 'Irregular grant of incentives and allowances' and the Thirty-fifth Report on Action Taken by the Government on the observations and recommendations contained in the PAC's One Hundred and Forty-second Report (Seventeenth Lok Sabha) on the 'National Social Assistance Programme'. Both reports will be presented in Hindi and English.

Under committee-related business, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and Malvika Devi will lay the Final Action Taken Statement of the Standing Committee on Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

The statement pertains to action taken by the Government on recommendations contained in Chapter I of the Tenth Report (Eighteenth Lok Sabha), which reviewed action taken on observations and recommendations of the Sixth Report on Demands for Grants (2024-25) of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Department of Food and Public Distribution.

In the Statements by Ministers segment, Pankaj Chaudhary will make four statements on the status of implementing the recommendations of various Standing Committees on Finance reports. These include reports on Demands for Grants (2024-25) and (2025-26) related to the Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, as well as reports on cyber security and the rising incidence of cyber and white-collar crimes and Demands for Grants (2025-26) pertaining to the Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance. All statements will be made in Hindi and English.

Additionally, Suresh Gopi will make a statement on the implementation status of recommendations contained in the 379th Report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture on Demands for Grants (2025-26) relating to the Ministry of Tourism.

The agenda also includes Matters under Rule 377, followed by further discussion and voting on the Supplementary Demands for Grants - First Batch for 2025-26, and additional consideration of the cut motions moved on December 12, 2025.

A bill to repeal the MGNREGA and bring a new law for rural employment -- Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) -- has been circulated by the government among the Lok Sabha members, a source said.

According to a copy of the bill, it seeks to introduce the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) Bill, 2025, in Parliament and repeal the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act of 2005.

It says the bill is aimed at establishing 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".

The bill has been circulated among the members of the Lok Sabha, and is likely to be introduced in the House.

The Lok Sabha will meet at 11 am today with a packed agenda that includes Question Hour, laying of papers, committee reports and legislative business.

According to the List of Business, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will seek the House’s permission to introduce a Bill related to approving supplementary financial requirements for various government services during the current financial year. She will also move that the Bill be taken into consideration and passed.

The House will take up obituary references, ministerial statements, key committee reports, Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2025–26 and major legislative business, including the Appropriation (No. 4) Bill, 2025. Proceedings will begin with obituary references for former Members of Parliament Subhash Ahuja (Sixth Lok Sabha), Prof. Salahuddin (Eighth Lok Sabha) and Bal Krishna Chauhan (Thirteenth Lok Sabha), followed by Question Hour.

The Winter Session of Parliament, which began on December 1, is scheduled to conclude on December 19.