Lok Sabha Clears Manipur Goods and Services Tax (2nd Amendment) Bill
The Lok Sabha on Monday cleared the Manipur Goods and Services Tax (Second Amendment) Bill 2025, even as Opposition members raised slogans and demanded immediate debates on several national concerns. The bill, which forms part of the government’s legislative agenda for the 2025 Winter Session, was passed amid loud resistance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speaking ahead of the Session, urged all MPs to focus on “delivery, not drama,” emphasising that Parliament should function as a platform for meaningful discussion. He criticised repeated disruptions over the years and said that newly elected MPs were growing frustrated because they were not getting opportunities to raise constituency issues.
Inside the House, the passage of the Manipur GST Amendment Bill happened against the backdrop of heated arguments. The Prime Minister reminded members that frustrations after electoral losses or pride after electoral wins should not dictate parliamentary behaviour. Instead, he called for focus on national policies and constructive debates.
The government has listed 14 major Bills for the Winter Session, with significant financial and structural reforms. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to introduce two key bills—
• Central Excise Amendment Bill 2025, replacing GST compensation cess on tobacco with excise duty, and
• Health Security and National Security Cess Bill 2025, replacing the current cess on pan masala to raise funds for public health and national security.
Currently, tobacco and pan masala are taxed at 28% GST plus compensation cess. The new legislation becomes necessary as the compensation cess—introduced during GST rollout in 2017—will end after repayment of Covid-era loans by December this year.
Meanwhile, Opposition parties united to demand urgent debates on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Many MPs said they would block proceedings unless the matter was taken up. Concerns ranged from transparency issues to safety risks for Booth Level Officers.
Other major issues raised included Delhi’s severe air quality crisis, security challenges following the November 10 Red Fort blast, US tariff tensions under President Donald Trump’s second term, new labour laws, border discussions with China, and investment concerns linked to LIC and corporate groups.
Among the 14 key Bills scheduled during this session are:
– Atomic Energy Bill 2025
– Higher Education Commission of India Bill 2025
– Jan Vishwas (Amendment) Bill 2025
– Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill 2025
– National Highways Amendment Bill 2025
– Securities Markets Code Bill 2025
– Insurance Laws Amendment Bill 2025
The Winter Session will span 15 sittings across 19 days, with Private Members’ Bills scheduled for December 5 and 19.
With the Manipur GST Amendment Bill now cleared, the Session has already set the tone for intense debates ahead.
