Parliament

The day in the Parliament began with the lower house locked in a furious, nearly 10-hour debate on Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Government lawmakers defended the exercise as a constitutionally valid, technologically enhanced method to eliminate duplicate, migrated, and deceased voter entries and ensure cleaner, more accurate voter lists. On the other side, the Opposition painted it as a selective, partisan exercise that disproportionately impacts minority and opposition-leaning constituencies calling it “vote-chori” and questioning the neutrality of the Election Commission of India (EC). Demands for transparency, full roll-verification, and independent auditing echoed throughout the proceedings.

Meanwhile, in the upper house a ceremony meant to commemorate 150 years of Vande Mataram turned into a bitter debate about national identity and cultural symbolism. The ruling alliance insisted the song be institutionally honoured for its historical role uniting freedom fighters; the Opposition countered that patriotism cannot be enforced by legislation, accusing the treasury benches of playing identity politics and ignoring urgent social and economic issues.

Overlapping with these flashpoints, the nation’s aviation system battered by repeated cancellations and passenger chaos came under fire. The Civil Aviation Ministry faced tough questions over a recent spate of flight disruptions by IndiGo. In response, the minister announced that new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) for pilots are now in force to curb crew fatigue and improve safety. The House was told airlines, including IndiGo, would face strict DGCA oversight; regulators may penalize future lapses, and a parliamentary standing committee has asked to summon airline executives and DGCA officials next week to investigate the systemic breakdown.

On internal security, the Home Ministry laid bare recent gains in the fight against left-wing extremism, reporting that since 2019, 29 top Maoist leaders have been neutralised, over 7,300 cadres arrested, and roughly 5,571 militants surrendered. According to the government, the number of “severely affected” districts has shrunk thanks to increased security deployments, better inter-agency intel-sharing, and developmental outreach. MPs pressed for details on rehabilitation for surrendered cadres and sought fresh district-wise data.

Adding another layer, Parliament’s committees revealed economic and administrative developments: public-sector banks have written off more than ₹6.15 lakh crore in bad loans over recent years, prompting opposition demands for a full disclosure of beneficiaries and recovery breakdowns. The government announced plans to shut down 25 loss-making central PSUs under its restructuring drive triggering concerns about job security, asset valuation, and possible privatization. On the taxation front, simpler income-tax return forms are reportedly coming soon, aimed at easing compliance.

Last but perhaps most explosive: the opposition bloc formally signalled its intention to bring an impeachment motion against Justice G. R. Swaminathan of the Madras High Court, citing alleged misconduct. If they secure the necessary signatures, this could trigger a major constitutional confrontation between Parliament and the judiciary.

As the Winter Session (scheduled from December 1–19, 2025) enters its second week, what began as a planned session has evolved into one of the most turbulent, politically charged sittings in recent memory with every debate, symbolic gesture, and procedural move turned into a battleground of competing narratives about democracy, governance, identity, and institutional trust.

Why Today Matters: The Stakes Are Bigger Than Politics

• The SIR debate is about more than updating voter lists, it strikes at the heart of electoral fairness and democracy, raising questions about who gets to vote and whose votes may be discarded.
• The “Vande Mataram” controversy illustrates how cultural and symbolic politics can overshadow substantive issues like economy, jobs, public welfare.
• The IndiGo crisis underscores systemic vulnerabilities in essential public services and highlights the challenge of regulating large private players under public interest.
• Security updates on left-wing extremism point to government claims of success but the call for data and rehabilitation signals continuing skepticism.
• Economic disclosures and PSU shutdowns reflect broader structural changes, but also spark anxiety over job security and transparency.
• The potential impeachment of a High Court judge threatens a constitutional standoff raising fundamental questions about checks and balances, judicial independence, and parliamentary power.

In short: what unfolded today isn’t just politics as usual. It is a microcosm of India’s larger struggles — about identity and inclusion, about economic reform and fairness, about institutional integrity and trust — and a clear signal that the next few months in Parliament will shape more than just laws.