Disruptions and Debates: Navigating the 2024 Parliament Winter Session

Apr, 4 2025

The 2024 Winter Session of Parliament spiraled into a whirlwind of disruptions and debates, unfolding from November 25 to December 20. Set against a backdrop of procedural hurdles and legislative challenges, the intensity of the session was as much about what didn’t happen as what did. Both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha struggled to maintain productivity, operating at 52% and 39% of scheduled times respectively. This was starkly evident in the first week, where functioning plunged below 10% in both houses.

Amidst these disruptions, only four new bills were put forward in Lok Sabha, and of these, the Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024 made it through both houses. This key piece of legislation marked a push for reforms in the civil aviation sector. In addition, the session approved a supplemental budget, sanctioning an extra ₹44,143 crore of expenditure, managing to address some pressing financial priorities despite the legislative mire.

One of the session's most notable highlights—or perhaps lowlights—was a burgeoning attempt to remove the Vice-President. For the first time, a motion was submitted on December 10, seeking the Vice-President's ousting, though it ultimately floundered due to procedural barriers. Similarly, an impeachment notice shadowed an Allahabad High Court judge, marking yet another procedural emphasis.

In a testament to the grandeur of political debate, 33 hours were consumed by a constitutional debate that engaged 209 participants, including responses from the Prime Minister and a key minister. Lok Sabha dedicated 16 hours to this discussion, while Rajya Sabha invested 17 hours. This focus on constitutional discourse not only engaged parliamentarians but also dominated public discourse outside the halls.

However, amidst these discussions, the time-honored tradition of private members' business suffered. With Lok Sabha losing two Fridays to disruptions and a substantial constitutional debate, while Rajya Sabha squeezed in discussions on one solitary Friday, the space for private initiatives to be aired was notably constrained.

As the session drew to a close, the lingering sentiment was one of frustration over low legislative output. The winter session registered the lowest bill passage rate of any recent Lok Sabha terms, a grim reminder of the necessity for smoother productivity and cooperation across party lines in tackling vital legislation in the future.