By – Rajkumari Sarjita
Typically, the Indian Parliament convenes its Winter Session annually during the months of November and December. In 2024, this session commenced on November 25, 2024 and concluded on December 20, 2024. This session was placed at a strategic position within the legislative schedule, as it afforded both houses the opportunity to deal with important matters, present new bills, and focus on topical national issues. Since 26 sittings were proposed, the session was planned to concentrate on the achievement of important government tasks such as the enactment of necessary statutory instruments, discussing the passage of budgetary allocations, and dealing with issues related to the country’s administration. The session further sought to promote the introduction of various motions, resolutions, and debates about the activities of the constitutional bodies and the issues of public administration.
The Winter Session in view is thus all more significant owing to the larger political and legislative environment within it. Among some major national reforms on the agenda of the government, including those concerning shipping and the geometry of India’s aviation and governance, the government aimed to undertake major developments in important sectors. Furthermore, the significance of the session also lay in the debates over foundational values, constitutional authority on the occasion of 75 years of the Constitution of India, and the role of public institutions. Such debates not only portrayed the transformation of political processes in India but also sought solutions for some pressing problems of the nation, such as the effectiveness and efficiency of legislatures, accountability, and openness. The Winter Session was therefore central in defining the legislative course of the country and meeting the emerging challenges of the Indian governance and administrative order.
Agenda of the Winter Session
During the 2024 winter session, a number of this important legislation were introduced, which aimed to reform and update management systems, together with, among others, the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill on the ‘One Nation, One Election’ policy, and the Coastal Shipping and the Merchant Shipping Bills, which focused on the development of the maritime industry. Also, the government listed the first supplementary budget for 2024-25 through which some more funds to the tune of ₹44,143 crore (1% of total budgeted expenditure) were given to facilitate better financial functioning. The private members’ business that included a number of bills and resolutions were, for the most part, affected, as no bills were debated in the Lok Sabha, and only one resolution was discussed in the Rajya Sabha.
Economic reforms, social welfare programs, and national security are priorities. Among the proposals presented by the government were some amendments to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) which were intended to reduce the need for tax compliance and promote the growth of trade and investment. To ameliorate the issues of financial deprivation and access to healthcare, social security programs such as expanding the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and Ayushman Bharat were focused upon. Another infrastructure development is transport and maritime, which is also an area of focus that shows a sense of growth orientation in the economy. The need to modernize defense forces was also a serious aspect of the discourse, since it was a requirement for improved national security as a political response to global concerns.
The session was held during state election preparation in various regions such as Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu, which determined legislative focus in order to meet the interests of regional/national constituencies. Political competitiveness also determined how the discussions were held, with many parties trying to appropriate their agendas to electioneering ones. In the international arena, relations with neighboring countries, especially China and Pakistan, made it possible for parliaments to debate national security issues. Such a combination of domestic and international factors determined the overall strategy of the Winter Session and greatly underscored the reality, which is the interplay of governance’s priorities and the changing political landscape.
Key Legislative Developments
The Winter Session of 2024 noticed active representatives as several bills were presented, voted, and considered. Prominent among the important approved bills is Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, which received minimal opposition from members, further indicating that there is a need to reform the regulatory processes related to civil aviation. Appropriate (No. 3) Bill 2024 has been introduced as a financial measure and it easily went through Lok Sabha since there was a need to cater to supplementary budgeting activities. Likewise The amendments, namely, The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024, Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and which the Lok Sabha has passed, debating them stirred many emotions with objections as to the timing of their enactment and their coherence with other reforms.
Unfinished discussions and debates concerning the several bills introduced during the session continue. The Bill pertaining to `One Nation, One Election’ – the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 – and the Union Territories (Laws) Amendment Bill, 2024–were recommended for the formation of a Joint Parliamentary Committee to consider them in detail. These bills seek to establish uniform elections throughout the Indian Union by associating the provisions of the Union Territories with the proposed laws of the new election system. However, the contentions and broader implications of these bills are worthy of further exploration. The Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024 and the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024, which are intended for activities related to the development of the Indian shipping industry, are yet to be comprehensively discussed in Parliament.
Bills regarding the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill 2024 and Boilers Bill 2024 were submitted in Rajya Sabha in winter session 2024. Rajya Sabha passed the Oilfields Bill on December 3, 2024, and the Boilers Bill on December 5, 2024. Both bills are pending before Lok Sabha for consideration. Whereas the Oilfields Bill seeks to reposition the legal and institutional setting for governing oil exploration and production, the objectives of the Boilers Bill are to repeal the Boilers Act of 1923 to increase operational safety and simplify the procedures relating to the regulation of staff as well as the exploitation of boilers.
Major Discussions and Debates
The winter session saw an active participation of both Lok Sabha (Lower House) and Rajya Sabha (Upper House) on a number of issues. One of those matters engaged extensive public interest at the national level, and debate in the Parliament was the proposal of ‘One Nation, One Election, ’ which sought to hold all elections at the same time across the country. The government advocated for this move, suggesting that it would save money spent on elections and enhance election management, but the opposition articulated serious concerns about it. They pointed out that the proposal would undermine the federal structure, particularly the sphere of state activities. There was also a focus on issues of national importance, including terrorism, which required the government to act amid escalating geopolitical difficulties. The opposition seized the opportunity to criticize the government for readiness in defense forces, while the government asserted its trust in defending national interests.
Furthermore, it also saw its share of troubles with politically sensitive issues. As the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, was accused of showing bias during the session, the opposition spearheaded efforts to have him impeached. This impeachment motion was the first indication of the deepening polarization of the ruling party and opposition. There were cries in the opposition of the private sector engaging in foul play with the Adani Group, among others, that there should be an investigation into the activities of this group. This corruption not only became a source of interruptions in the session but also escalated into an overarching discourse on governance and accountability mechanisms.
This session witnessed the opposition playing an active role. They frequently attacked the ruling coalition’s economic management practices, especially during inflationary periods, rising levels of unemployment in the country, and proposed changes to labor laws. Apart from this, the opposition parties went on protest marches and walked out of sessions, mostly concerning the manner in which One Nation, One Election and Adani issues were managed. It was their intention to ensure that the government was held accountable for its policies and actions. The position taken by the opposition, even though sometimes exceptional in terms of its effectiveness in changing the position of government, further underscored the political polarization and the blame game politics and the difficulty of achieving broad legislative agreement at these times.
Parliamentary Procedures and Functioning
Productivity was considerably affected because frequent adjustments and interruptions plagued it, with the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha sitting for an estimated 52% and 39% of their allocated time, respectively. In the first week, the efficiency of both houses was less than 10%. Essential for the question hour was the efficient allotment of its time, but it was deficient, given the poor performance in the logistics of the operation, with 44% in the Lok Sabha and 21% in the Rajya Sabha. In Lok Sabha, Question hour lasted more than 10 minutes on eight days during the session while during session Question hour was completely absent on fifteen out of the nineteen days in Rajya Sabha.
Although the Constitution was the subject of much debate for 16 hours in Lok Sabha and 17 hours in Rajya Sabha, no adjustment motions or short-duration discussions were considered. Notices lodged under Rule 267 about pressing topics were not entertained, thereby restricting the floor time for such items from being exhausted. Processes that are important to discourse are underspent. Further, private members’ business, which is also an important area of legislative outreach with non-government members, was almost absent, as no discussions were held in the Lok Sabha and only one resolution was discussed in the Rajya Sabha.
There was live video streaming of proceedings and updates on social media aimed at enhancing public participation and accountability. However, the public scrutiny of legislative processes was limited, as there were many interjections, such as adjournments demanding probes on issues such as the Adani Group controversy. Despite the advances in accessibility, these interruptions highlighted the obvious disconnect in people’s quest for accountability and the workings of the Parliament. Therefore, both observers and leaders have requested some kind of procedural change to tackle these problems and better deal with time.
.Noteworthy Political Developments
Furthermore, the session saw high levels of aggression from both the opposition and BJP-led government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside his government, endorsed and enacted economic policies and measures on national security, which was met with fierce opposition from Congress and various other regional parties. The remaining parties merged to contest government policies as well, especially in cases related to financial management, labor laws, and forms of the economy, which resulted in their members instigating protests, walking out, and disrupting both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. This led to articles from the parliament getting stalled for a long time and even further delaying a lot of necessary legislation and their passage.
The session was also characterized by state-specific concerns coming to the forefront, owing to regional politics. Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) became voices of opposition against the central government, especially with regard to the policies they felt, and did not promote markets where local resources were to be provided. With state elections approaching, the state’s party wanted their say to feel like the central government was too controlling. This made room for debate even more chaotic, as regional interests sometimes took precedence over national priorities.
Crucial aspects of the meeting were led by top leadership figures, especially the Prime Minister, who defended the government policies during the session and was supported by the party despite the disruptions caused by opposition. In contrast, some opposition leaders, such as Mallikarjun Kharge, followed up, and Rahul Gandhi initiated the responsibility to put the government in check by targeting issues of corruption and economic growth. This kind of leadership ensured that there was tension in the political climate with increased polarization between the government and opposition throughout the session.
Output and Impact
The legislative output during the winter of the Indian Parliament in 2024 was minimal. The Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024 is the only bill that was approved, and this is indeed the lowest approval of bills in the past six Lok Sabha terms. Additionally, five bills were introduced, many of which were sent for committee deliberations. Due to disturbances and demonstrations, the Lok Sabha also lost the passage of critical pieces of legislation amounting to approximately 65 hours. Despite this, the first supplementary budget for 2024-25 was taken up and passed, which led to an increase in government spending by ₹44,143 crore.
The session’s outcomes are likely to be felt in social, economic, and political spheres. The crucial pieces of legislation that are yet to be passed may have a ripple effect on policy making with respect to economic, social, or even national security. Ineffective lawmaking and standstill might further erode the confidence of the people in the parliamentary system, especially with elections in the offing. Continuous delays in the fulfillment of government plans could depress the electorate’s confidence in the utility of voting for people in the office.
Responses from the public and the press appeared to be diverse. While a segment of the press lauded the government for pursuing its objectives despite political headwinds, others lamented the ineffectiveness of the session in achieving its objectives owing to breakages and interruptions. The former’s tendencies mirrored a feeling of helplessness over the prospects of the government enacting essential reforms, while the latter’s opinion was based on the deepening of political rivalries in parliament. These reactions show the divergence between the aspirations of voters and the activity of the parliament during the session.
Challenges and Controversies
When reviewing the winter session of parliament for 2024, certain opposition groups alleged that the government was dominating deliberation and bulldozing major laws through parliament, including those addressing the issue of national security. In their view, bills concerning economic and collective security approval were performed in constitutional amendments without adequate consideration. For the opposition, this was seen as a breach of the principles of democracy because legislative proposals that were of great concern to the populace were rarely discussed or considered.
There were also major disturbances and walks. For a succession of weeks, members of the opposition were protesting touch the government weeds s speeches of parliament Such actions are beginning to worry the opposition about the debate over laws that appear unreasonable to restrict power Was closed on the side of the Lok Sabha to express discontent over government subverting democracy such with respect to the criticism of the power Janatha ruling government.
Consequently, these disruptions deprived a number of issues and bills, particularly the government’s uncouth approaches from even being touched. Issues pertaining to labor reforms, electoral reforms, and the assignment of states will have to wait for future sessions. Because the opposition raised objections and agreement could not be reached, these important issues were not considered, saying that the matters will be discussed later.
Conclusion
The Indian Parliament’s winter session of 2024, to a large extent, did not achieve intended legislative objectives due to frequent reconvening of the parliament and insufficient time for the discussions to be polished. The key fundamental reforms, including those unattached to the economy and national security policies by the government in the session, were at least two bills, one of which passed and many never got to consider owing to the unattended issues. The government was hindered more by the unfettered and continuous assault from the legislative opposition, particularly regarding the government’s overzealousness in passing laws with little concern about their contents. Although the government passed the supplementary budget, the achievement of the sessions in general was not impressive, and the pressing issues of electoral and labor reorganization were left hanging.
Fight over centralization of power and a lack of discussion on major issues heated the political climate and caused walkouts as well as protests. Clearly, these protests, though bearing testimony to opposition dissatisfaction, contributed further to the stalemate that engulfed the parliament, limiting its usefulness. The government and opposition alike had major differences in that they could not discuss civility, thus leaving behind a number of key things while waiting for moves.
In general, the effectiveness of the winter session was undermined because of political deadlocks, a lack of discussion of important bills, and low legislative activities. Confrontation, rather than collaboration, was characteristic of the session because the government met with stiff resistance in attempts to push forward its agenda. Important issues were left unresolved and should be addressed in future studies.