Will Reforms Surge Following Bihar's Victory as Parliament's Winter Session Begins?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- NDA's victory in Bihar boosts government confidence.
- Winter Session of Parliament aims for significant reforms.
- Atomic Energy Bill, 2025 allows private sector in nuclear energy.
- Opposition prepares for strong challenges over electoral and environmental issues.
- Intense political dynamics expected in the coming weeks.
New Delhi, Nov 30 (NationPress) Energized by the NDA’s significant win in Bihar, the Central government is set to commence Monday’s Winter Session of Parliament with a revitalized spirit and a bold agenda for reform. This session heralds the introduction of transformative legislation that will permit private participation in India’s civil nuclear sector for the very first time.
The upcoming three-week session, which features 15 sittings and is scheduled to wrap up on December 19, follows a nearly complete washout of the Monsoon Session. The results from Bihar have heavily influenced this session, with the ruling benches eager to pass a series of important Bills.
At the forefront of the legislative agenda is the Atomic Energy Bill, 2025, which will establish new guidelines for the production, development, and regulation of atomic energy while cautiously allowing private entities into power generation under stringent government oversight.
Other top priorities include the Higher Education Commission of India Bill aimed at granting universities increased autonomy through a unified, transparent regulatory framework; a National Highways amendment designed to expedite and simplify land acquisition; adjustments to corporate and LLP regulations to facilitate business operations; and the comprehensive Securities Markets Code, 2025, which seeks to consolidate and modernize three existing laws governing capital markets.
Additional legislative efforts include amendments to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act, two carry-over bills from the last session, and the initial supplementary demands for grants, marking a busy legislative agenda. However, one proposed bill has been put on hold: after strong opposition from both allies and adversaries, the government has withdrawn its intention to empower the President to directly formulate regulations for the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju convened an all-party meeting on Sunday in hopes of achieving smoother coordination and preventing a repeat of the previous session's disorder.
Conversely, the opposition is preparing for a robust challenge, aiming to confront the government regarding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls across twelve states and Union territories, which many parties view as a targeted deletion initiative, alongside the persistent air pollution crisis afflicting the national capital.
As the memory of the Bihar victory lingers and both sides take firm stances, the forthcoming weeks promise a volatile blend of significant reform initiatives, intense political disputes, and a glimmer of hope that Parliament may finally succeed in passing new legislation.