Indian Parliament Winter Session Commences Amidst Legislative Push and Electoral Reform Demands

The Winter Session of the Indian Parliament officially began on December 1, 2025, with the government poised to advance a significant legislative agenda. Key bills focusing on excise, health security, and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) are among the priorities for the ruling party, according to Mint News. This session is anticipated to be a crucial period for policy-making and parliamentary debate.

However, the commencement was marked by strong demands from opposition parties for a structured debate on electoral reforms. Specifically, they are pressing for discussions concerning the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, an exercise currently underway across several states, as reported by India TV News. This issue has emerged as a central point of contention.

Adding a new dynamic to the proceedings, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan presided over the Rajya Sabha for the first time as its Chairman. His assumption of this significant role follows his election as the 15th Vice President of India in September 2025, a detail confirmed by britannica. This marks a new chapter for the Upper House.

The government's legislative push includes the introduction of the Central Excise (Amendment) Bill and the Health Security and National Security Cess Bill, 2025, by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. These bills aim to replace the GST compensation cess on certain products with new levies, as stated by The Financial Express. This move is expected to reshape taxation on specific goods.

Opposition parties, however, have made it clear that they will not allow smooth functioning of the Houses if a debate on the SIR is not permitted, according to The New Indian Express. They also seek discussions on national security and air pollution, highlighting a potentially stormy session, Times of India reported.

The Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls has become a contentious issue, with opposition parties alleging irregularities and political motivations behind the exercise. The Election Commission of India (ECI) maintains that SIR is a vital process for ensuring accurate and inclusive voter lists, as noted by Jagran Josh. This divergence sets the stage for heated exchanges.

The session, scheduled for 15 sittings over 19 days, will also see discussions on other critical economic and social legislation. The government hopes for cooperation to ensure productive parliamentary work, while the opposition is determined to hold the government accountable on key issues, as reported by India TV News.

• The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is a comprehensive exercise undertaken by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to update and verify voter lists across the nation. This process, which involves house-to-house verification by Booth Level Officers (BLOs), aims to ensure accuracy, inclusivity, and the removal of duplicate or ineligible entries, according to Vajiram & Ravi. The ECI views it as crucial for maintaining the integrity of democratic elections, as explained by Drishti IAS.

• The SIR 2025 exercise has been rolled out in phases, initially covering 8 crore voters in Bihar and subsequently extending to 12 states and Union Territories, encompassing over 51 crore voters, as detailed by DD News On Air. These states include Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, with the final electoral roll expected to be published by February 14, 2026, The Economic Times reported.

• Opposition parties have voiced strong objections to the SIR, alleging that it is politically motivated and could disproportionately affect certain voter groups, potentially altering electoral outcomes. The Samajwadi Party, for instance, has threatened to stall parliamentary proceedings if a discussion on SIR is not allowed, citing large-scale irregularities, according to The New Indian Express. Concerns have also been raised about the deaths of 40 Booth Level Officers during the exercise in West Bengal, as highlighted by TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee.

• Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, who took office on September 12, 2025, brings extensive political experience to his role as Chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Prior to his election as Vice President, he served as the Governor of Maharashtra and Jharkhand, and was a two-time Member of Parliament from Coimbatore, as noted by DD News. His background includes a long association with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), according to wikipedia.

• The government's legislative agenda for the Winter Session is ambitious, featuring several economic reforms. Beyond the excise and health security bills, other key proposals include the Atomic Energy Bill, 2025, the Higher Education Commission of India Bill, and the Securities Markets Code Bill, 2025, which aims to consolidate various laws governing capital markets, as reported by Mint. These bills signify a push for reforms across multiple sectors.

• The parliamentary procedures for passing legislation in India involve multiple stages in both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, including introduction, debate, committee scrutiny, and presidential assent, as explained by Unacademy. The government's ability to navigate its legislative agenda will depend heavily on managing the opposition's demands for debate on critical issues like electoral reforms, as highlighted by PRS Legislative Research.

• The current session is notably shorter, spanning 15 working days, which has led to concerns from the opposition about adequate time for debate on crucial matters. Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi expressed worries that the government might be trying to "derail" Parliament by limiting discussion time, according to Telegraph India. This brevity could intensify clashes over the allocation of parliamentary time for various issues.