Parliament Winter Session 2025 Live: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha adjourned for the day

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday specified the rationale behind the Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025. She said that the GST system taxed the consumption of pan masala at 28 per cent plus compensation cess. “Since the compensation cess is going to end, that portion will shift into a 40 per cent cess,” Sitharaman said.

However, the finance minister said that many types of pan masala still do not fall under the tax net because GST is applied on the basis of consumption. “Excise taxes production. But pan masala cannot be taxed on production because it is not classified as an excisable product,” she said.

“Hence, through the new law, the government is imposing a production-based tax in the form of a cess,” Sitharaman added.

Addressing the Rajya Sabha session, Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Rajya Sabha MP Sulata Deo slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party over the deteriorating air quality across the country, particularly in Delhi-NCR, and asserted that their “400 par slogan” is now complete, as the AQI crossed 400 across the national capital and adjoining areas in recent days, news agency ANI reported.

Winter session of Parliament 2025: Lok Sabha takes up Health Security se National Security Cess Bill for consideration

The Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025 has been taken up for consideration and passing in Lok Sabha.

The proceedings of Rajya Sabha have been adjourned till 2 pm.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi alleged that foreign dignitaries are not being allowed to meet the leader of the Opposition under the current regime. His remarks came after the first deputy prime minister of Russia, Denis Manturov, arrived in Parliament on Thursday.

"It usually is a tradition that whoever visits from outside has a meeting with LoP. It used to happen during the governments of Vajpayee ji, Manmohan Singh ji. This has been a tradition. But these days, foreign dignitaries or when I visit abroad, Govt suggests them to not meet the LoP. This is their policy and they do it all the time," he told ANI.

Expressing concerns over the deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR as well as other parts of North India, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra noted the impact on elderly as well as children. "Which season should we enjoy? Look at the situation outside. Like Sonia ji said, children are unable to breath. She has asthma, and senior citizens like her are facing breathing difficulty. The situation keeps getting worse year after year. Only statements are made every year, no concrete action is taken. We have all said that the Govt has to take action and we all stand with them. This is not a political issue that we would point fingers at each other," she said.

Congress MP Ajay Maken on Thursday blamed BJP and AAP over the pollution crisis in Delhi-NCR. "In Delhi, the Delhi government and the Central Government are parties. Neither of them can play the blame game now... Till the time public transport in Delhi is improved, the issue of pollution will not be resolved. During 15 years of Congress, we had everything under control...BJP and AAP have completely failed to curb pollution in Delhi," he said.

Winter session of Parliament: Opposition MPs protest in front of Makar Dwar

Opposition MPs on Thursday gathered in front of Makar Dwar on Parliament premises to protest over the issue of rising air pollution in Delhi-NCR as well as several parts of North India.

Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju has informed that during the all-party meeting chaired by Lok Sabha Speaker, it was decided to hold a discussion in Lok Sabha on the 150th Anniversary of the National Song ‘Vande Mataram’ on December 8 and a discussion on election reforms on December 9.

Three Congress MPs -- namely Manickam Tagore, Manish Tewari and Vijayakumar alias Vijay Vasanth -- have moved adjournment motion notices in the Lok Sabha to discuss the rising air pollution in Delhi-NCR as well as other parts of North India.

This comes as several parts of North India grapple with worsening air quality over the last few weeks. In Delhi, the air quality settled in the 'poor' category on Thursday with an AQI reading of 299, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

As per the CPCB, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 to 100 'satisfactory', 101 to 200 'moderate', 201 to 300 'poor', 301 to 400 'very poor' and 401 to 500 'severe'.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to move the Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025 for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

The Bill aims to augment resources for meeting expenditure on national security and public health, and to levy a cess for the said purposes on machines installed and other processes undertaken for the manufacture or production of specified goods, and for matters connected therewith.