Winter Session Achievements and Future Legislation
As 2025 concludes, India’s legislative landscape has seen significant activity, particularly during the Winter Session of Parliament, which ended on December 19, 2025. This session was marked by intense debates and swift action, leading to the passage of several crucial bills aimed at national reforms and addressing societal needs. The legislative process continues, with anticipation for the upcoming Budget Session of 2026, which is expected to introduce impactful financial and policy-oriented legislation.
During the Winter Session, ten new bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha. Eight of these successfully passed both Houses and received Presidential assent. These enactments reflect the government’s commitment to the ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) vision, impacting sectors such as rural employment, nuclear energy, and social security. Other significant bills were introduced or referred to parliamentary committees for future consideration.
Major Indian Parliament Bills 2025 Passed in the Winter Session
The Winter Session of 2025 was characterized by robust legislative output, with Parliament approving eight key bills expected to bring substantial changes:
- Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin): Viksit Bharat – G RAM G Bill, 2025: This bill replaces the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). It expands the statutory guarantee of wage employment to 125 days per rural household and adjusts the funding model to a 60:40 Centre-State ratio, aiming for greater rural economic stability.
- Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, 2025: This legislation opens India’s civil nuclear energy sector to private entities, intended to boost nuclear energy production and enhance energy security.
- Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Insurance Laws Amendment) Bill, 2025: This bill raises the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) limit in insurance companies from 74% to 100%, expected to deepen social security coverage and attract long-term technology transfers into the insurance sector.
- Health Security Se National Security Cess Bill, 2025: A money bill introducing a specific cess on tobacco manufacturing to augment resources for public health and national security infrastructure.
- Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025: Rationalizes the duty structure on tobacco products, replacing the GST compensation cess with a higher excise duty.
- Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025: Consolidates existing GST slabs in Manipur into two main brackets (5% and 18%) to simplify the tax structure and introduces unique identification marking for goods.
- Appropriation (No. 4) Bill, 2025: Authorized supplementary grants for the current financial year.
- Repealing and Amending Bill, 2025: Simplified the legal code by repealing 71 obsolete laws and making minor amendments to four others, improving ease of governance.
Anticipating the Budget Session 2026: Upcoming Legislative Agenda
The conclusion of the Winter Session shifts focus to the Budget Session of 2026, traditionally centered on financial legislation and the government’s economic roadmap. Several other key pieces of legislation, previously introduced or referred to committees, are also slated for consideration.
Key Financial Indian Parliament Bills 2025 for the Budget Session
- Finance Bill: Proposes changes in taxation and fiscal laws, essential for the Union Budget to come into effect and outlining revenue-raising measures.
- Appropriation Bill: Grants the government authority to withdraw funds from the Consolidated Fund of India, authorizing governmental expenditure for the next financial year from April 1st.
Other Pending Legislations Expected in 2026
- The Viksit Bharat Shiksha Adhishthan Bill, 2025: Aims to overhaul higher education regulation; referred to a joint committee during the Winter Session.
- The Securities Markets Code Bill, 2025: Intended to merge key securities market laws into a single framework; sent to a standing committee for scrutiny.
- The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025: Report from a select committee has been presented, making its consideration probable.
- The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025: Seeks to simplify and modernize laws by repealing and re-enacting four existing acts.
- The Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025: Aims to provide a robust mechanism for the protection of interests in aircraft objects, aligning with international conventions.
- The “Tribhuvan” Sahkari University Bill, 2025: Proposes the establishment of a new cooperative university.
- The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024: Amends the Waqf Act, 1995, to allow non-Muslim members in Waqf bodies and revoke the finality of Waqf Tribunal decisions.
- The Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024: Proposes to repeal the Indian Railway Board Act, 1905, and incorporate its provisions into the Railways Act, 1989.
- The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024: Aims to replace the Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925, for modern maritime trade.
- The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024: Addresses crucial reforms in the examination system.
The Indian Parliament’s Winter Session has established a strong foundation for reform, particularly in rural development, energy, and social security. The upcoming Budget Session of 2026 will focus on finalizing the government’s financial roadmap and advancing a diverse array of pending legislations, playing a crucial role in shaping India’s future.
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