Winter Session Day 3: Lok Sabha passes Bill to levy excise duty on tobacco
Once enacted, the Bill will give the government the financial capacity to raise the central excise duty on tobacco and related products after the termination of the GST compensation cess
The Lok Sabha on Wednesday (December 3) approved legislation to impose an increased excise duty on tobacco and related products following the conclusion of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) compensation cess. The Central Excise (Amendment) Bill, 2025, received approval through a voice vote in the Lower House.
Once enacted, the Bill will provide the government with the financial capacity to raise the central excise duty on tobacco and associated products following the termination of the GST compensation cess, which is presently levied on all tobacco items such as cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, hookah, zarda, and flavoured tobacco.
Presently, a 28 per cent Goods and Services Tax (GST) plus cess at a varied rate is levied on tobacco and related products.
The proposed legislation seeks to impose an excise duty of 60-70 percent on unmanufactured tobacco. For cigars and cheroots, an excise rate of 25 percent or Rs 5,000 per 1,000 sticks is suggested, whichever amount is greater. Cigarettes are proposed to be taxed based on their length and filter, with rates ranging from Rs 2,700 to Rs 11,000 per 1,000 sticks, while chewing tobacco is proposed to be taxed at Rs 100 per kilogram.
The Bill also intends to replace the table that outlines the tariff rates for tobacco and tobacco products found in Section IV of the Fourth Schedule of the Central Excise Act, 1944.
Opposition MPs arrive wearing masks
Earlier in the day, Opposition MPs arrived in Parliament for the third day of the Winter Session wearing gas masks to protest against the severe pollution in Delhi. Parliamentarians of the Opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) bloc also protested against the four Labour Codes in the morning. Members of Parliament from the Trinamool Congress protested against the Narendra Modi government over pending central funds due for West Bengal.
INDIA bloc strategises on electoral reform talks
Floor leaders of the INDIA bloc held a meeting to finalise their strategy after the government agreed to the Opposition’s insistence on discussing the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll under the broader issue of electoral reforms.
Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, along with Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, attended the meeting as the alliance worked to align its approach for the upcoming debates.
The Lok Sabha will take up the matter of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls next Tuesday (December 9), when it is scheduled to be included in a broader debate on electoral reforms.
The decision followed an all-party meeting convened by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after the House witnessed a complete washout for the second straight day, with disruptions stemming from the standoff between the government and the Opposition over the timing of the SIR discussion.
Heated scenes in RS
The Rajya Sabha, on the other hand, saw a heated exchange during the day after Trinamool member Dola Sen raised during the Zero Hour the home ministry's November 25 directive to rename all Raj Bhavans in the country as Lok Bhavans. She also spoke on additional issues, including MGNREGA, prompting the House Chair to step in and say that the deviated remarks would not go on record.
Also Read: Centre nod for poll reforms debate; Parliament standoff may end today
Govt sets December 9-10 debate on electoral reforms amid SIR logjam
SIR clash in Rajya Sabha as Chair rejects debate, Opposition walks out
Govt invites Opposition for talks to end Parliament impasse over SIR
Winter session disrupted by anti-SIR protest, Lok Sabha adjourned for the day
Follow more LIVE updates below
Live Updates
- 3 Dec 2025 1:56 PM IST
Giriraj Singh slams Opposition protest as media gimmick
BJP MP Giriraj Singh on Wednesday criticised the Opposition’s protest in Parliament, alleging that their demonstrations are staged merely to draw media coverage after losing public backing. He said that leaders who attack the Speaker outside the House resort to disruption inside it, claiming “nothing is left for them except doing such things.”
His remarks came on a day when senior Congress leaders-Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi-joined the INDIA bloc’s protest against the four labour codes at the Parliament complex, holding banners stating that the laws promote “corporate jungle raj.”
The demonstration followed the government’s decision to agree to the Opposition’s demand for a discussion on electoral reforms, scheduled for December 9. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said after an all-party meeting that the Lok Sabha will debate the 150th anniversary of “Vande Mataram” on December 8 and electoral reforms the next day. He told ANI he expects a constructive discussion, noting that SIR is an administrative issue decided by the Election Commission.
- 3 Dec 2025 1:51 PM IST
Vaishnaw calls fake news a threat, plans action on deepfakes
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw described fake news as a serious danger to democratic processes, stressing the need for firm action against those producing AI-generated deepfake videos and circulating misinformation. Addressing the Lok Sabha during Question Hour, he said the government is preparing new rules to curb fake news and strengthen institutional safeguards to deal with emerging threats.
Vaishnaw noted that individuals and networks responsible for spreading false content often operate outside the bounds of Indian law, making enforcement essential. He welcomed the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications and Information Technology, chaired by Nishikant Dubey, saying the panel had offered valuable guidance that will inform upcoming regulatory measures. At the same time, he emphasised the importance of maintaining a careful balance between tackling misinformation and preserving freedom of expression.
Responding to a query on online betting, the minister said the Modi government has enacted stringent legislation to regulate online money-gaming platforms. On complaints about TV channels allegedly airing misleading content, he said both the government and the Press Council of India examine such cases and act when necessary.
(With agency inputs)
- 3 Dec 2025 1:24 PM IST
Scindia says Sanchar Saathi app cannot enable snooping
Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia dismissed concerns that the Sanchar Saathi safety app could enable surveillance, insisting that snooping is neither possible nor will occur through the platform. Responding during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha, he emphasised that the app is intended solely to safeguard users. Reiterating his point in Hindi, he said, “Sanchar Saathi app se na snooping sambhav hai, na snooping hoga.”
Amid the debate surrounding the ministry’s recent directive, Scindia added that the objective is to empower citizens by giving them tools to protect themselves. The order issued on November 28 requires all smartphone manufacturers to preload the government-run cybersecurity app on every new device sold in the country, and to roll it out to existing handsets via software updates.
The directive also instructs companies to ensure the app is clearly visible and accessible during initial setup and that none of its features are disabled or restricted for users.
(With agency inputs)
- 3 Dec 2025 1:16 PM IST
Centre outlines steps to boost the global ranking of universities
Nominated member Satnam Singh Sandhu raised concerns about the performance of Indian universities in global rankings such as the Times Higher Education and QS World Rankings. He pointed out that perception constitutes 50% of the overall score, influenced heavily by the proportion of international students and faculty, and sought clarity on what steps India is taking to strengthen this component.
Responding, Minister of State for Education Sukanta Majumdar outlined several ongoing government initiatives aimed at attracting global talent. He cited programmes like Spark, focused on faculty and research, as well as Gyan and Study in India, which are designed to draw international students and academics. Majumdar further noted that the UGC has introduced options for double and twin degrees with foreign institutions, opportunities that were not previously available. He added that Indian universities are also expanding overseas, referencing the new Zanzibar campus of IIT Madras as an example of this outreach.
- 3 Dec 2025 1:12 PM IST
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2pm for lunch
Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2pm for lunch after completion of Question Hour. Lok Sabha proceedind continue.
- 3 Dec 2025 1:08 PM IST
Priyanka Chaturvedi seeks strict action against food, drug adulteration
“Right from contaminated cough syrups that have been taking the lives of infants, prescribed by doctors, and low quality medicines available in the market as well food adulteration that leads to adulteration across the country needs to be brought under control and we need to have more stricter measures and punitive actions against those who are flouting these norms,” says Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Vickram Chaturvedi.
- 3 Dec 2025 1:02 PM IST
Gaurav Gogoi demands justice for Zubeen Garg's 'murder'
“The State Government of Assam says that Zubeen Garg’s death was murder. Then we want to know how that during a programme organised by the Government of India, a murder was committed on foreign soil. We want justice for Zubeen Garg and we request the Government of India to give the highest civilian honour to the late Zubeen Garg,” says Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi in Lok Sabha.
- 3 Dec 2025 12:56 PM IST
Opposition MPs wear gas masks to protest Delhi’s toxic air
Opposition MPs arrived at Parliament on the third day of the Winter Session wearing gas masks to register their protest against escalating air pollution in the national capital. Earlier, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi had remarked that Parliament should add the deteriorating air quality across several regions to its agenda and hold a discussion on the matter. She told ANI that issues such as pollution also deserve attention, along with other pressing concerns needing debate.
Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) slipped back into the “very poor” category on Wednesday after a brief improvement the previous day. Around 7 a.m., the AQI was recorded at 376, edging close to the “severe” threshold and slightly higher than Tuesday’s average reading of 372. The latest figures place the city firmly in the “very poor” band, hovering near hazardous levels.
- 3 Dec 2025 12:52 PM IST
Rajya Sabha Chair asks Derek O’Brien not to disrupt the House
Rajya Sabha Chairman CP Radhakrishnan asked Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Derek O’ Brien not to create any controversy and not to disrupt the House. The TMC MP responds saying that “I don’t want to create any controversy. I want to thank you for giving me one or two minutes today. Let me explain what our MP said. Our MP said that the government has changed the name of Raj Bhavan to Lok Bhavan. ‘Lok’ means people, and what have you (the government) done for the people? Our MP was explaining with data how the people of Bengal were discriminated against.”
- 3 Dec 2025 12:43 PM IST
Opposition stages protest in Parliament against new Labour Codes
Several Opposition MPs, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chiefs Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, staged a protest on Wednesday in the Parliament House complex against the recently notified labour codes, calling for their withdrawal. Lawmakers from the Congress, DMK, TMC and Left parties gathered near Parliament’s Makar Dwar, holding placards and posters denouncing the new framework and demanding that the codes be scrapped.
Along with Kharge, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, the demonstration saw participation from Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, TMC MP Dola Sen, DMK leaders K. Kanhimozhi and A. Raja, CPI(M) MP John Brittas and CPI(ML) Liberation’s Sudama Prasad. The MPs also displayed a large banner declaring, “No to Corporate Jungle Raj, Yes to Labour Justice.”
The Centre notified the four labour codes last month, bringing forward legislation pending since 2020. The Congress has criticised the move, alleging that 29 existing labour laws have simply been bundled into four broad codes-the Code of Wages (2019), Industrial Relations Code (2020), Code on Social Security (2020) and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code (2020).
While the codes introduce measures such as mandatory appointment letters, expanded social security and improved safety provisions, trade unions have objected to changes in retrenchment rules, increased working hours and the higher threshold for government approval on closures and layoffs.
(With agency inputs)
