Parliament winter session: After Bihar win, confident Modi govt sets a packed agenda; 7 key reform bills on cards

After a massive victory in Bihar, the government will enter the winter session of the Parliament with confidence. This is reflected in the heavy legislative agenda, leaning towards reforms, packed in the 15 sittings. The winter session will last from December 1 to 19.

The last session was marred by protests against the special intensive revision (SIR) exercise of electoral rolls conducted in Bihar. Now, as the results reveal, SIR had an opposite effect, as the ruling dispensation got an unexpected huge mandate. But, given that the SIR exercise is on in other states like West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, where polls are due next year, the Opposition parties are set to raise the issue again.

The Winter session also carries institutional significance, as it will be the first full session chaired by the newly elected Vice President, C.P. Radhakrishnan, who also presides over the Rajya Sabha.

On the eve of the session, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju has called an all-party meeting aimed at building agreement across the political spectrum. The meeting is expected to focus on ensuring orderly proceedings and addressing procedural concerns raised by different parties. The meeting will take place on November 30.

The government has said it wants a “constructive and meaningful” session, but the opposition has signalled that it intends to challenge the treasury benches on several issues. With both sides hardening their positions in recent days, the session could turn stormy despite the government’s outreach.

The legislative agenda is extensive. At the top of the list is the Atomic Energy Bill 2025, which seeks to overhaul the regulatory framework governing atomic energy in India. The bill is expected to introduce new compliance standards and may open the sector more fully to private participation, aligning with the government’s long-term plan to expand nuclear power capacity.

The Higher Education Commission of India Bill is another major proposal. It envisions replacing existing regulatory bodies such as the University Grants Commission with a new commission mandated to set academic standards, oversee accreditation and promote institutional autonomy. The government argues that the new framework will modernise the higher education landscape, although some Opposition parties have raised questions about the centralisation of powers.

Infrastructure development features prominently on the agenda. The National Highways Amendment Bill aims to streamline land acquisition for highway projects and introduce measures to reduce delays in implementation. The government has linked the proposal to its broader push to accelerate national infrastructure corridors and improve logistics efficiency.

Corporate and financial sector reforms form the next significant cluster of bills. The Corporate Laws Amendment Bill 2025 seeks to update the Companies Act and the LLP Act to address regulatory gaps, simplify compliance and improve the ease of doing business. The Securities Markets Code Bill 2025 consolidates three major securities laws into a single code, creating a more unified framework for market regulation. The Insurance Laws Amendment Bill aims to deepen market penetration and support growth within the sector by reviewing restrictions and simplifying investment norms.

Other legislative proposals include the Repealing and Amending Bill 2025, which targets 120 outdated laws for removal. Two bills from the previous session are scheduled for consideration and passage: the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code Amendment Bill 2025, and the Insurance Laws Amendment Bill.

The government has clarified that one of the bills initially included in the provisional list, the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill 2025, concerning Chandigarh’s inclusion under Article 240, remains under review. It will not be introduced during the winter session.