The Winter Session of Parliament is set to commence on Monday, December 1, 2025, and continue until December 19, with 15 sittings scheduled. Ahead of the session, an all-party meeting was convened on Sunday to foster cooperation and ensure the smooth functioning of both Houses. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju chaired the meeting, with Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Arjun Ram Meghwal, and JP Nadda also in attendance. The opposition was represented by key figures such as Jairam Ramesh, Kalyan Banerjee, Ram Gopal Yadav, and M Thambi Durai.
During the all-party meeting, the opposition raised concerns on several critical issues, demanding detailed discussions on matters of national importance. These included national security in the wake of the recent Delhi blast, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, rising air pollution, and farmers' concerns. Foreign policy developments and safeguarding democracy were also highlighted as key areas for debate. Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi voiced the opposition's apprehension that the government is undermining parliamentary traditions. He stressed the need for discussions on national security, the integrity of the voter list, economic security for farmers, and the direction of India's foreign policy.
The government, on the other hand, has signaled its readiness to listen to the opposition's concerns, with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stating that the issues raised would be discussed at the Business Advisory Committee meetings. However, the government has also made it clear that it will not debate the SIR issue in Parliament. Despite the Congress party alleging that the government intends to curtail the parliamentary process, the government has outlined its legislative priorities and is seeking cooperation for the session's smooth conduct.
The government is keen on pushing its reforms agenda during the Winter Session. A key piece of legislation is 'The Atomic Energy Bill, 2025', which aims to open up the civil nuclear sector to private players. Other significant bills on the agenda include 'The Higher Education Commission of India Bill', which seeks to establish a commission to promote autonomy and excellence in higher education. Additionally, the government plans to introduce 'The Health Security and National Security Cess Bill, 2025' to enhance resources for national security and public health. The government has also listed 'The Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025' for introduction on the first day of the session. Furthermore, the government aims to discuss the 150th anniversary of the national song, Vande Mataram.
Other proposed legislations include the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2025, to facilitate ease of doing business, and the Securities Markets Code Bill (SMC), 2025, to consolidate regulations related to the securities market. Amendments to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act are also on the government's agenda.
The opposition is expected to strongly contest the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the exercise is influenced by the central government and contains serious errors. Parties like the Trinamool Congress, DMK, and Samajwadi Party are likely to voice their opposition to the voter list revision. Air pollution in the national capital is another issue the opposition plans to raise.
With a relatively short session and several contentious issues on the table, there are concerns that disruptions could hinder the passage of key bills. The government is working on a floor strategy to navigate the session, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has appealed for cooperation to ensure smooth functioning.
