The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day as Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) members trooped into the well demanding reservation in promotions for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Trinamool Congress members also trooped into the well asking the Chair to take cognigence of their notice for moving a No-Confidence motion against the government on FDI. The House was earlier adjourned for half an hour on the same issue.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned thrice till 2 PM with Samajwadi Party members rushing to the well demanding a discussion on Foreign Direct Investment in the multi-brand retail sector. BSP members wanted to raise the law and order situation in Uttar Pradesh.

When House met after its second adjournment at 1230 hours, Speaker Meira Kumar allowed Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandyopadhyaya to seek permission of the House to move the No Confidence motion. The Speaker, however, turned it down as the party did not have the requisite numbers to move the motion.

As soon as both the Houses met on the first day of the winter session, the Presiding Officers paid tributes to former members, who passed away in the intervening period. Both the Houses also made a reference to those who lost their lives in the superstorm sandy in the US, in the cyclone Nilam in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh and those killed in a stampede during Chhat Puja in Patna.

In the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh introduced the newly inducted ministers in his Cabinet.

Leader of Opposition Mrs Sushma Swaraj pleaded with the Chair to allow a discussion on FDI under the relevant rules entailing voting. She said the government had failed to honour its assurances that FDI will only be allowed after a consensus of all political parties on the issue.