GST is high point of Winter Session of Parliament

The Government of India considers the just-concluded Winter Session of Indian Parliament to be one of the most productive sessions in recent years following the passage of 17 bills in Lok Sabha (Lower House) and 11 bills in Rajya Sabha (Upper House).

Speaking about the last session of the year, India’s Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu noted that the introduction of the much-awaited Goods and Services Tax Bill was “the high point of our government’s initiatives and of this winter session.” GST is described as “One Nation, One Market, One Tax” by the government.

“When GST comes into being soon, (it) would be the most far reaching tax reform since Independence. GST is expected to increase GDP by about 2 per cent. This would reduce corruption and make business hassle-free,” Naidu told media persons. “The government can only make its best intentions known by introducing necessary legislative proposals and prioritising the pending legislations inherited. Thereafter, it is for Parliament to adjudicate and serve the felt needs of the country.”

Apart from the introduction of the GST Bill, the Lok Sabha passed the Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2014, the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill, 2014, and the Electricity (Amendment) Bill, 2014.

The Rajya Sabha saw the passage of fewer bills owing to a stalemate arising out of political issues. The crucial bills relating to the auctioning of coal blocks, enhancing FDI in the capital-starved insurance sector and extension of Delhi Special Provisions Act could not be passed in the Upper House.

In another sharp contrast in the functioning of the two Houses of Parliament during the initial four weeks of the Winter Session, the Lok Sabha functioned for over 126 hours during the stipulated 20 sittings with a productivity of over 105 per cent against a productivity of only 68 per cent in the Rajya Sabha. During this period the Lok Sabha passed 17 bills against only 11 by the Upper House.

Lok Sabha lost only 2 hours and 10 minutes to interruptions while Rajya Sabha lost a total time of 44 hours and 9 minutes to interruptions during 15 of the 19 sittings for which data is available. However, members of the Upper House worked overtime on seven days, making up 8 hours 46 minutes.