Parliament clears key bills, adjourns Winter Session sine die

New Delhi:The 19-day Winter Session of Parliament concluded on Friday after the passage of several key bills, including legislation to repeal the 20-year-old MNREGA and open up the civil nuclear sector to private participation. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla adjourned the House sine die following a brief valedictory address.

Birla said the Lok Sabha recorded 111 per cent productivity during the session, with members sitting for extended hours to debate important legislation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present in the House when the proceedings were adjourned.

During the 15 sittings of the session, the Lok Sabha took up debates on 150 years of Vande Mataram and on electoral reforms. However, a proposed discussion on air pollution, to be initiated by Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, did not take place.

The opposition had demanded a debate on the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision of voter lists in 12 states and Union Territories, but the government said the functioning of the poll panel could not be discussed and instead agreed to a debate on electoral reforms. Opposition members, however, targeted the revision exercise, the new law on appointing election commissioners and alleged irregularities in the electoral process.

Among the major legislations passed was the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Bill, which promises 125 days of guaranteed employment in rural areas. The Bill was cleared amid protests by opposition members. Parliament also passed the SHANTI Bill to allow private participation in the civil nuclear sector and a Bill to raise foreign direct investment in the insurance sector to 100 per cent.

The Sabka Bima Sabki Raksha (Amendment of Insurance Laws) Bill, 2025, was cleared by the Rajya Sabha, while another Bill repealing 65 amendment Acts and six obsolete laws was also passed. A Bill to set up a higher education regulator was referred to a joint parliamentary committee, and a market securities code Bill was sent to a standing committee for scrutiny.

Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan criticised disruptions by opposition members during the passage of the rural employment guarantee Bill, calling the conduct unbecoming of Members of Parliament. He said the 269th session of the Upper House was otherwise highly productive, recording 121 per cent productivity, extended sittings on several days and a rise in Zero Hour activity.