Parliament enters Winter Session; Finance Minister set to table 2 cess-linked Bills on December 2

Parliament's Winter Session opened on Monday, December 1, with a packed legislative agenda. On the first day of the session itself, there are three questions listed for oral discussion. Economists, market participants and the public at large will closely track the proceedings in the Winter Session of Parliament.

What’s expected in Lok Sabha on December 1: Three main questions in the spotlight

• Government’s ongoing strategic divestment of IDBI Bank
• LIC’s exposure to Adani group companies
• Whether corporate investment in India is slowing

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What happens in Winter Session?

Typically, lawmakers use the Winter Session of Parliament to raise issues tied to fiscal planning, regulatory matters and sectoral reforms. This sets the stage for debates leading into the upcoming Budget Session. Though the shortest of the year, the Winter Session handles a concentrated mix of legislative business and public accountability.

ALSO READ: Winter Session of Parliament: 9 key bills set to be tabled—Important dates and other details

What’s lined up for December 2? Two key Bills from the finance minister

On Tuesday, December 2, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to introduce two taxation-related Bills, both centred on restructuring the cess framework for products such as cigarettes, pan masala and gutkha. The government will table the Health Security to National Security Cess Bill, 2025, aimed at levying a dedicated cess on products like pan masala and gutkha. An amendment to the Central Excise Act will be introduced to create a cess mechanism specifically for cigarettes.

According to sources, there will likely be no change in existing cess rates. The levies currently charged under GST for these products will be replaced by the newly structured cesses under the two Bills. In other words, the burden on these categories of items remains unchanged, while the legal framework under which the cess is imposed is set to shift.