The Winter Session of Parliament, spanning from November 25 to December 20, 2024, featured 20 Lok Sabha sittings and 19 Rajya Sabha sittings across 26 days. During this session:
- Legislative Achievements: Five Bills were introduced in Lok Sabha, four were passed by it, and three by Rajya Sabha. The notable "Bhartiya Vayuyaan Vidheyak, 2024" Bill, intending to repeal the Aircraft Act, 1934, was passed by both Houses.
- Landmark Bills Introduced: Two crucial Bills—the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024—aiming to enable simultaneous elections under the "One Nation, One Election" initiative, were referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee.
- Constitutional Anniversary Celebrations: The nation marked the 75th anniversary of adopting the Constitution on November 26, 2024, with a commemorative event at Samvidhan Sadan. The President released two books and launched a coin and stamp, with all participants reading the Preamble. Discussions on the Constitution's 75-year journey spanned 15+ hours in Lok Sabha and 17+ hours in Rajya Sabha.
- Productivity: Lok Sabha's productivity stood at 54.5%, while Rajya Sabha’s was 40%.
The session also saw the passage of the First Batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants 2024-25 after extensive debates.
Following is a summary of the passed legislation:
| S. No. | Name of the Bill | Bill Category | Bill Reference No. | Preamble | Object & Purpose | Lok Sabha | Rajya Sabha | Presidential Assent | Act No. and Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction Date | Passing Date | Introduction Date | Passing Date | ||||||||
| 1 | The Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024 | Finance Bill | No. 74-F of 2024 | A Bill to provide for regulation and control of the design, manufacture, maintenance, possession, use, operation, sale, export and import of aircraft and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. | The Bill seeks to repeal and re-enact the Aircraft Act, 1934. It aims to streamline regulations on aircraft design, manufacture, and maintenance, empower the Central Government for certifications and emergency orders, and implement international aviation conventions. It addresses ambiguities, redundancies, compensation, and penalties, while saving prior actions. | 31-07-2024 | 09-08-2024 | NA | 05-12-2024 | 11-12-2024 | No. 16 of 2024 |
| 2 | The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024 | Finance Bill | No. 98-C of 2024 | A Bill to amend the Disaster Management Act, 2005. | The Bill seeks to amend the Disaster Management Act, 2005. It aims to clarify roles of Authorities and Committees, grant statutory status to pre-Act organizations, strengthen National and State Disaster Management Authorities, shift disaster planning responsibilities, create national and state disaster databases, and establish Urban Disaster Management Authorities and State Disaster Response Forces. | 01-08-2024 | 12-12-2024 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| 3 | The Oilfields Regulation and Development (Amendment) Bill, 2024 | Ordinary Bill | No. 52-C of 2024 | A Bill further to amend the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948. | This Bill aims to update the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Act, 1948, to enhance energy access, security, and affordability. Key amendments include delinking petroleum from mining, broadening the definition of mineral oils, introducing petroleum leases, and strengthening operational rules. The Bill also seeks to improve dispute resolution, decriminalize provisions, and support energy transition by integrating renewable energy projects. | NA | NA | 05-08-2024 | 03-12-2024 | NA | NA |
| 4 | The Boilers Bill, 2024 | Ordinary Bill | No. 54-C of 2024 | A Bill to provide for the regulation of boilers, safety of life and property of persons from the danger of explosions of steam-boilers and for uniformity in registration and inspection during manufacture, erection and use of boilers in the country and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. | The Bill aims to repeal and re-enact the Boilers Act, 1923, and update its provisions. It focuses on regulating boiler manufacture and use, ensuring safety from explosions, and enforcing registration and certification. The Bill seeks to remove outdated provisions, introduce new rules, and establish independent third-party inspection authorities to enhance clarity and uniformity in boiler regulation. | NA | 08-08-2024 | 04-12-2024 | NA | NA | |
| 5 | The Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 | Ordinary Bill | No. 110-C of 2024 | A Bill further to amend the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the State Bank of India Act, 1955, the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970 and the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1980. | The Bill aims to amend the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934, the Banking Regulation Act, 1949, the State Bank of India Act, 1955, and related legislation. Key amendments include redefining substantial interest, increasing co-operative bank director tenures, revising statutory reporting dates, improving nominee provisions, and allowing unclaimed dividends to be transferred to the Investor Education and Protection Fund. The Bill seeks to enhance bank governance, consistency, and investor protection. | 09-08-2024 | 03-12-2024 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| 6 | The Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024 | Finance Bill | No. 113-C of 2024 | A Bill further to amend the Railways Act, 1989. | The Bill proposes to incorporate the provisions of the Indian Railway Board Act, 1905 into the Railways Act, 1989, simplifying the legal framework by merging two laws into one. This consolidation aims to enhance the functioning and independence of the Railway Board, streamline operations, and establish uniform standards for railway development. | 09-08-2024 | 11-12-2024 | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| 7 | Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024 | Finance Bill | No. 177 of 2024 | A Bill to consolidate and amend the law relating to regulation of coastal shipping, promote coasting trade and encourage domestic participation therein, to ensure that India is equipped with a coastal fleet, owned and operated by the citizens of India for its national security and commercial needs, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. | The bill aims to modernize India's coastal shipping sector by repealing outdated laws and addressing regulatory gaps. It expands the definition of "coasting trade", mandates licensing for vessels, and includes offshore service vessels under its purview. The Bill promotes Indian jobs and shipbuilding, establishes a National Database for transparency, and introduces a National Coastal and Inland Shipping Strategic Plan. It also empowers the Director-General to regulate effectively, imposes penalties, and enables better oversight and information sharing. | 02-12-2024 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| 8 | The Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024 | Finance Bill | No. 183 of 2024 | A Bill to consolidate and amend the law relating to merchant shipping to ensure compliance with India’s obligation under the maritime treaties and international instruments to which India is a party and also to ensure the development of Indian shipping and efficient maintenance of Indian mercantile marine in a manner best suited to serve the national interest and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. | The Bill aims to modernize and replace the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, to address global shipping challenges and align with international standards. Key provisions include expanding vessel ownership eligibility, improving seafarer rights and welfare, ensuring pollution prevention and maritime safety, and enhancing liability mechanisms for marine incidents. The Bill promotes Indian tonnage, strengthens regulatory oversight, and supports maritime education and training. It also establishes frameworks for wreck and salvage operations, mandates insurance for smaller vessels, and empowers the government to manage abandoned and unsafe vessels effectively. | 10-12-2024 | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| 9 | The Appropriation (No. 3) Bill, 2024 | Money Bill | No. 274 of 2024 | A Bill to authorise payment and appropriation of certain further sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India for the services of the financial year 2024-25. | The Bill is introduced under Articles 114(1) and 115 of the Constitution to authorize the appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Fund of India. It provides for meeting the supplementary expenditure charged on the Consolidated Fund and the grants approved by the Lok Sabha for the Central Government's expenditure during the financial year 2024-25. | 17-12-2024 | 17-12-2022 | NA | NA | Deemed to be passed | NA |
| 10 | The Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024 | Constitutional Amendment Bill | No. 275 of 2024 | A Bill further to amend the Constitution of India. | The Bill seeks to implement simultaneous elections for the House of the People (Lok Sabha) and all State Legislative Assemblies to reduce election frequency, cost, and administrative disruptions caused by frequent polls. It proposes amendments to Articles 83, 172, and 327 and introduces Article 82A to align tenures and schedules. The Bill stipulates that the terms of Assemblies elected after its enactment will coincide with the Lok Sabha's term, enabling synchronized elections nationwide. This move is based on recommendations of a High-Level Committee and aims to streamline electoral processes and enhance governance efficiency. | 17-Dec-2024 (referred to Joint Parliamentary Committee) | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
| 11 | The Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024 | Ordinary Bill | No. 276 of 2024 | A Bill further to amend the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991 and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019. | The Bill aims to implement the recommendations of the High-Level Committee chaired by Shri Ram Nath Kovind to hold simultaneous elections for the House of the People and Legislative Assemblies in Union territories. It proposes amendments to the Government of Union Territories Act, 1963, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Act, 1991, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation Act, 2019 to facilitate such elections. This step aligns election schedules in Union territories with those of the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies, ensuring efficiency and consistency in the electoral process. | 17-Dec-2024 (referred to Joint Parliamentary Committee) | NA | NA | NA | NA | NA |
Disclaimer
The information provided in this article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The content of this article is not intended to create and receipt of it does not constitute any relationship. Readers should not act upon this information without seeking professional legal counsel.
