Parliament Winter Session: Opposition Stages Pollution Protests as Government Pushes New Cess Bill

Summary of Key Events: December 2-4, 2025

The table below captures the major developments in Parliament over the last three days, highlighting the tension between protest and policy.

| Date | Primary Issue | Key Event | Outcome/Status |

| Dec 4 | Air Pollution | Opposition MPs, led by Sonia Gandhi, protested at Makar Dwar and moved adjournment motions to declare the crisis a "national emergency". | Protests held; motions not accepted for immediate debate. |

| Dec 4 | Economic & Legislative | Finance Minister introduced the Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025 in Lok Sabha. The rupee's fall past ₹90/USD was raised in Rajya Sabha. | Bill debated; economic concerns highlighted. |

| Dec 3 | New Labour Codes | Major opposition demonstrations against four new Labour Codes implemented on November 21, 2025. | Widespread protests; no parliamentary debate. |

| Dec 2 | SIR & Walkout | Opposition continued demanding a discussion on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. | Opposition staged a walkout from Rajya Sabha. |

Opposition Demands "National Emergency" Declaration for Toxic Air

The most visible confrontation on December 4 centered on the severe air pollution engulfing Delhi and North India. Opposition lawmakers, including Congress MPs, staged a protest at the Parliament complex, with many wearing masks to underscore the crisis.

Inside the House, Congress MP Vijay Kumar moved an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha, demanding the situation be declared a national public health emergency. He described Delhi as an "open air gas chamber" where toxic air is harming every organ of the body. Supporting the protest, senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi stated it was the government's responsibility to act as "children are dying".

The government, in a previous disclosure, had confirmed over 200,000 cases of acute respiratory illnesses in six Delhi hospitals between 2022 and 2024. Despite the urgency, the demand for an immediate debate was not accepted, with the Rajya Sabha Chairman clarifying that discussions under the relevant rule could only be on subjects listed on the day's agenda.

Behind the Labour Code Protests: A Major Workplace Overhaul

The opposition protests on December 3 targeted the four new Labour Codes—covering Wages, Industrial Relations, Social Security, and Occupational Safety—which took effect on November 21, 2025. These codes consolidate 29 existing central labour laws into a unified framework.

The reforms introduce significant changes:

For Workers: They mandate timely wage payments, introduce a statutory national floor wage, and grant fixed-term employees parity in benefits with permanent staff, including eligibility for gratuity after one year of service. The codes also expand the definition of "worker" and extend social security to unorganized, gig, and platform workers.

For Employers: They raise the threshold for establishments requiring government permission for lay-offs or closures from 100 to 300 workers. The government states the aim is to simplify compliance through single electronic returns and risk-based digital inspections.

However, the implementation has sparked concern. A 2020 Parliamentary Standing Committee report had recommended amendments, including reducing the time limit to raise an industrial dispute and applying strike restrictions only to essential public utility services. The opposition's protest reflects unresolved debates over the balance between labour flexibility and worker protections.

Legislative Business: The Health and National Security Cess Bill

Despite the disruptions, the government advanced its legislative agenda. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moved the Health Security se National Security Cess Bill, 2025 for consideration in the Lok Sabha.

The bill proposes to levy a cess on the production capacity of machines used to manufacture specified goods like pan masala and tobacco. Sitharaman clarified that the cess would not apply to essential commodities and that part of the revenue would be shared with states for health schemes.

The debate revealed political fissures:

Government's Stance: The levy was presented as a deterrent on "demerit goods" to fund public health and national security.

Opposition's Concerns: MPs questioned the use of a "cess," whose revenue rests solely with the central government, instead of a tax shared with states. DMK MP Thamizachi Thangapandiyan argued it "deepens the fiscal imbalance," while others warned it could hurt MSMEs and promote illegal smuggling.

What to Expect as the Session Continues

The Winter Session, which concludes on December 19, remains on a contentious path. A tentative truce has been brokered for a broader debate on election reforms, which will include the controversial SIR, on December 9.

The core dynamic is set: the opposition will likely continue to press for discussions on public health and labour, while the government focuses on passing its legislative agenda, which includes bills on insurance, securities markets, and insolvency. Whether the Houses can transition from protest to productive debate on these critical issues will define the remainder of the session.