With Vice President CP Radhakrishnan set to preside over the Rajya Sabha for the first time in the upcoming winter session, the Upper House is expected to see a renewed focus on productive debates and public welfare, officials said.

Sources said Radhakrishnan is considering a proposal to increase speaking time for smaller parties and independent MPs from two minutes to five minutes. The move comes after several requests from smaller parties and aims to ensure more meaningful participation from members who previously had limited opportunities to voice their concerns.

Over the past few months, Radhakrishnan has met lawmakers to discuss ways to improve the productivity of the House, maintain focused debates, and emphasise people-centric issues over partisan politics. “Debates must be productive, and MPs should not deviate from the subject,” the Vice President reportedly told several leaders.

An Opposition leader noted that MPs from the INDIA bloc often compress multiple issues into brief speeches because government-sponsored debates have been scarce in recent years. Issues such as the special intensive revision (SIR), economic challenges, India-China relations, and price rise have gone largely undiscussed, they said.

In the monsoon session, the Rajya Sabha’s productivity was recorded at just 34%, with the Lok Sabha utilising 29% of its allotted time, according to PRS Legislative Research.

Officials explained that under the current rules, independent MPs or parties with only one member get only two minutes to speak, which often barely covers formalities such as standing, preparing notes, and beginning the speech. Granting five minutes would allow them to contribute more substantively to discussions.

Radhakrishnan’s approach is seen as a corrective step after the tenure of former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, whose relationship with the Opposition deteriorated sharply, culminating in the first-ever notice of no-confidence against a sitting Vice President in independent India. Dhankhar resigned in June 2025, citing health reasons.

Radhakrishnan, who defeated Opposition-backed former Supreme Court judge B Sudershan Reddy to become India’s 15th Vice President, will face his first test during the winter session, scheduled from December 1 to 19. Parliamentary experts have welcomed any move to increase time limits, noting that a Chairman willing to run the House overtime for substantive discussions could significantly enhance legislative productivity.