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Parliament Session: Law Minister Tables “One Nation, One Election” Bill in Lok Sabha

December 17, 2024, 12:48 pm

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal tabled the highly anticipated “One Nation, One Election” bill in the Lok Sabha during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament. The move aims to synchronize elections across India, reducing the frequency of polls at various levels of government.

As the bill was introduced, opposition MPs raised slogans, expressing their dissent over the proposal. The winter session in New Delhi continues with discussions on key national issues.

BJP and Congress Issue Directives for MPs Ahead of Constitutional Debate, Priyanka Gandhi To Give Debut Speech

December 13, 2024, 11:42 am

Both the BJP and Congress have instructed their Lok Sabha MPs to attend a significant debate on December 13 and 14, marking the 75th anniversary of the Constitution’s adoption. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will open the discussion in the Lower House.

The BJP issued an official notice to its members, stating, “All BJP members in LS are hereby informed that the 75th anniversary of adoption of the Constitution will be taken up in LS on Friday, 13th of Dec and Saturday, 14th of Dec, 2024. All members of BJP in LS are, therefore, requested to be positively present in the House throughout both days and support govt’s stand.”

Sources confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will respond to the discussion on Saturday. Meanwhile, Home Minister Amit Shah is set to initiate the debate in the Rajya Sabha on December 16.

Priyanka Gandhi to Make Lok Sabha Debut

Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi is expected to deliver her first speech in the Lok Sabha during Friday’s debate. Reports suggest that Priyanka, a first-term MP, has accepted the Congress party’s invitation to lead the opposition’s perspective in the discussion.

Proceedings Disrupted Amid Heated Exchanges

On Thursday, both houses of Parliament suspended proceedings following fiery debates between the government and opposition. The disagreements centered on the motion to remove Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, alongside controversies involving George Soros and the Adani Group.

In the Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla granted BJP MP Nishikant Dubey permission to speak. Dubey launched a strong critique of Congress, alleging financial connections between George Soros and the Gandhi family. He claimed Soros had funded the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) and related trusts, asking, “What’s RGF and Sonia Gandhi’s relationship with Soros?”

Allegations of Anti-India Links

Dubey further alleged that opposition members attempted to suppress his concerns. He questioned, “What connection does Sonia Gandhi have with FDL-AP (Forum of Democratic Leaders in Asia-Pacific), which is anti-India and advocates Kashmir as a separate country?”

The BJP has previously accused Sonia Gandhi of links to FDL-AP, an organization reportedly receiving funds from Soros-backed groups. These allegations added to the tension, with debates in Parliament escalating.

Dhankar Convenes Meeting After Rajya Sabha Chaos Over Vinesh Disqualification

August 8, 2024, 2:40 pm

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankar convened a meeting with floor leaders from both Houses of Parliament after he was compelled to leave the upper house due to ongoing disruptions from the opposition on Thursday. The uproar was centered around the disqualification of wrestler Vinesh Phogat from the Paris Olympics 2024.

Dhankar described the scene in the House as “unprecedented” and “indigestible,” criticizing the opposition for their conduct. “It is our bounden duty to take tough decisions. Sublimity has been misunderstood as fragility, and persuasion has been mistaken for weakness,” he stated.

Earlier in the day, Dhankar briefly ceased presiding over the session and exited the House, citing a lack of support. This action followed a walkout by opposition members who were frustrated after their request to discuss Phogat’s disqualification was not addressed.

Dhankar condemned the opposition’s actions, calling them an attack on Indian democracy and an insult to the dignity of his position. He remarked, “Making this sacred House a center of anarchy…This challenge is not against me personally but against the post of the Chairman.”

Dhankar expressed his disappointment over what he saw as disrespect from opposition members and clarified that his departure was not an attempt to avoid his responsibilities. “You set aflame democratic traditions…insult to the chair,” he said, referring to the protests in the House.

On Wednesday, MPs from the INDIA Bloc protested at Parliament, demanding justice for Phogat. Congress Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Surjewala questioned the government’s silence on the issue. “The whole country hopes she will rise again and fight. But why is the Government of India silent?” Surjewala asked.

Surjewala also urged the Indian Olympic Association to address the matter with the International Olympic Committee, highlighting concerns over discrepancies in Phogat’s weight measurements. “The Indian Olympic Association should discuss this with the International Olympic Committee,” he suggested.

Surjewala concluded, “This medal is not just for Vinesh but for the whole country, and the BJP needs to understand that.”

Opposition Gets Its Act Together

August 7, 2024, 2:04 am

The one thing that stands out in this Parliament session is the role of the opposition. After nearly a decade of the Modi Government the opposition has finally found its voice. Whether it was the reply to the government on the President’s Address or on the budget the opposition has not been found wanting in its reaction. With Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav leading from the front, the TMC & AAP have played a stellar supporting role. The mood was set from the Speaker’s Election when both Rahul and Akhilesh congratulated the Speaker on his re-election but also cautioned against his playing a partisan role.
What is also commendable is the choice of issues raised. No longer is Rahul restricting his attack by harping endlessly about the Adani-Ambanis or the hold the RSS has on the government. Instead he is raising issues that the ‘aam-admi’ would like raised – from NEET exam, MSP to the Indexation rollback. Indeed the Modi Government has done itself no favours with this budget since it holds nothing but more taxes for the middle class. As a result, Rahul Gandhi whose politics until now were now aimed at the middle class has suddenly emerged as the next-best-alternative. Infact the Modi Government has gifted Rahul Gandhi a whole new constituency with this budget.

Geopolitics is something that has always caught Rahul Gandhi’s interest. He was one of the first to raise the threat from China in parliament as had other Congress leaders specially Manish Tewari. The latter has been taking on the government on some of its geostrategic moves and the collapse of Bangladesh only underlines the fact that the Modi Government needs to walk through its neighbourhood policy very carefully. In this it should take the opposition along for it has been a long stated practice for any Prime Minister to brief the Parliament about his trips abroad. This is not a practice Prime Minister Modi follows very keenly (for instance the House is still to be briefed about his Russia visit and why he chose Putin for his first bilateral with the Ukraine-Russia conflict looming large). However, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar did brief Rahul Gandhi on Bangladesh. This is also what is due to the Congress leader for Rahul is also the Leader of the Opposition. Both in terms of his individual politics and the position he wants to portray to the rest of the opposition it was a smart move for Rahul to take up the LoP position himself and not appoint any other Congress leader.

And so with the Monsoon session drawing to a close, both in terms of opposition politics and the spirit of democracy it was a refreshing sight to see debate back in Parliament..

Watch: PM Modi’s Diplomatic Gesture – Offering Water To Opposition MPs

July 2, 2024, 10:46 pm

Prime Minister Narendra Modi made headlines during Tuesday’s Lok Sabha session when he offered water to opposition MPs who were vigorously protesting and shouting slogans against the government in the Well of the House. The incident occurred while PM Modi was delivering his nearly 135-minute-long speech in response to the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address.

Despite continuous disruptions and heckling from opposition members, PM Modi remained composed and at one point, amidst the uproar, extended a gesture of goodwill by offering a glass of water to the protesting MPs. Surprisingly, one of the opposition MPs accepted the gesture, leading to a brief moment of calm amid the heated session.

The prime minister’s unexpected move quickly gained traction on social media, with many supporters praising his statesmanship and ability to maintain decorum in challenging circumstances. BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, in a sarcastic comment, referred to PM Modi as “Modi the dictator” for offering water to the MPs who had interrupted his speech.

पानी पी पी कर सुनाना तो देखा था, पानी पिलाकर सुनाना पहली बार देखा है।
pic.twitter.com/zwZymyd8Tq

— Aman Chopra (@AmanChopra_) July 2, 2024

On platforms like X (formerly Twitter), reactions varied widely, with some users applauding PM Modi’s gesture as a display of leadership, while others saw it as a strategic response to the opposition’s disruptive tactics. One user described it as a “boss move” and highlighted the significance of PM Modi’s action in defusing tension during a tense parliamentary session.

During the session, PM Modi also engaged in a heated exchange with Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of making baseless allegations and attempting to disrupt parliamentary proceedings. Speaker Om Birla intervened to reprimand Rahul Gandhi for urging opposition members to enter the Well of the House in protest.

Later, the House passed a motion condemning the opposition’s behavior, moved by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and seconded by Home Minister Amit Shah, marking a contentious yet eventful day in Indian parliamentary history.

Parliament Session 2024: Rahul Gandhi Writes To LS Speaker Over Expunging of Speech

July 2, 2024, 1:28 pm

Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi has written a letter to Speaker Om Birla regarding the expunging of remarks and portions of his speech. He requested that these remarks be restored. “I am shocked by the manner in which a considerable portion of my speech has been removed from the proceedings under the guise of expunction. Removing my considered remarks from the records goes against the very tenets of parliamentary democracy,” he wrote. The Congress MP further talked about the Freedom of Speech enlisted in the Constitution.

Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi writes to Speaker Om Birla over the remarks and portions from his speech expunged; requests that the remarks be restored.

The letter reads, “…Shocked to note the manner in which considerable portion of my speech have been simply… pic.twitter.com/zoD8A0xvlc

— ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2024

Parliament Session: Rahul Gandhi Waves Poster Of Shiva, Nanak, Jesus

July 1, 2024, 5:24 pm

As the sixth day of the Parliament session continued, Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi displayed pictures of Lord Shiva, Guru Nanak, and Jesus Christ in the Lok Sabha to reinforce the opposition’s belief in secularism. He also explained that “the opposition follows the values taught by them.” However, his actions were met with strong objections from Speaker Om Birla, who said that Parliamet’s rules do not allow for displaying any placard or sign.

LIVE: Motion of Thanks | 18th Lok Sabha https://t.co/F5aVLhZQLd

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 1, 2024

The Gandhi scion further slammed the BJP in Lok Sabha for spreading violence and hatred. Waving a poster of Lord Shiva in the Lok Sabha, he said, “If you look at Lord Shiva’s image, you’d know that Hindus never spread fear or hatred, but BJP spreads fear and hatred 24/7.” His remarks were countered by PM Narendra Modi, who said, “Calling Hindus violent inside the Parliament is a serious issue.” However, the Congress scion quickly remarked that BJP and RSS “aren’t the entire Hindu society.”

Parliament Set For Intense Debates Today: NEET And Agnipath Scheme Take Center Stage

July 1, 2024, 7:39 am

As Parliament reconvenes on Monday, July 1, a series of heated debates are expected to unfold. The opposition is set to focus on a range of pressing issues, including the ongoing NEET paper leak controversy, the Agnipath initiative, and inflation. Additionally, concerns about unemployment are likely to be raised.

Anurag Thakur to Initiate Motion of Thanks Discussion

In the Lok Sabha, BJP member and former Union Minister Anurag Thakur will initiate the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, with first-term Lok Sabha member Bansuri Swaraj seconding the motion. In the Rajya Sabha, 21 hours have been allocated for the debate, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expected to reply on Wednesday. The Lok Sabha has set aside 16 hours for the debate, concluding with the Prime Minister’s reply on Tuesday.

NEET-UG Paper Leak Row Dominates Parliamentary Proceedings

The NEET-UG paper leak controversy has significantly impacted parliamentary proceedings. The NEET-UG exam, conducted by the NTA on May 5, saw around 24 lakh candidates appear. The results were announced on June 4, but allegations of question paper leaks in states such as Bihar, along with other irregularities, have sparked significant controversy.

Opposition members of the INDIA bloc forced an adjournment in the Lok Sabha on Friday, demanding a dedicated discussion on the NEET issue. The Rajya Sabha also witnessed vociferous protests, with opposition members, including Leader of the Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge, calling for a discussion on the NEET row.

Incident in Rajya Sabha

Amid the sloganeering in the Rajya Sabha, Congress member Phulo Devi Netam from Chhattisgarh fainted while raising slogans, apparently due to high blood pressure. She was rushed to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. Opposition members criticized the government for not adjourning the House proceedings and showing a lack of concern for the health of a Rajya Sabha member.

The debates and discussions are expected to be intense, reflecting the critical issues at hand and the opposition’s determination to hold the government accountable.

‘PM Modi Shown 73 times, Rahul Gandhi 6 Times During President Murmu’s Address’: Congress

June 27, 2024, 5:29 pm

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of receiving more screen time than Lok Sabha’s leader of the opposition, Rahul Gandhi, during President Droupadi Murmu’s address to a joint session of both Houses of Parliament.

Ramesh posted on X, “Who was shown how many times in the 51-minute President’s address?

• Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi: 6 times

• Government: 108 times

• Opposition: 18 times

Sansad TV is for showing the proceedings of the House, not for the narcissism of cameramen.”

51 मिनट के राष्ट्रपति के संबोधन में किसको कितनी बार दिखाया गया?

• नेता सदन नरेंद्र मोदी : 73 बार
• नेता प्रतिपक्ष राहुल गांधी: 6 बार

• सरकार: 108 बार
• विपक्ष: 18 बार

Sansad TV सदन की कार्यवाही दिखाने के लिए है, कैमराजीवी की आत्ममुग्धता के लिये नहीं

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) June 27, 2024

President Droupadi Murmu delivered her inaugural address to both Houses of Parliament following the establishment of the 18th Lok Sabha. During her speech, she criticized the 1975 Emergency declared by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, labeling it as the “biggest and darkest chapter of direct attack” on the Constitution.

The President said, “My government does not consider the Constitution of India as just a medium of governance; rather we are making efforts to ensure that our Constitution becomes a part of public consciousness.”

Responding to the President’s address, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said on X, “Listening to the President’s address written by the Modi Govt, it seemed as if Modi ji is in a perpetual state of denial! The mandate was against him because the people of the country rejected his slogan of “400 plus” and kept the BJP away from the figure of 272.”

He added, “Modi ji is unable to accept this, that is why he is pretending that nothing has changed, but the truth is that the people of the country had asked for change.”

Listening to the President’s address written by the Modi Govt, it seemed as if Modi ji WAS in a perpetual state of denial!

The mandate was against him because the people of the country rejected his slogan of “400 plus” and kept the BJP away from the figure of 272.

Modi ji is… pic.twitter.com/U4AfAwr9GO

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) June 27, 2024

They just made a few changes to old speeches. There was nothing new in the President’s address to Parliament today. Several elections have been held since Emergency in which the BJP was defeated. They have nothing new to say,” said Congress leader Tariq Anwar.

PM Modi Opens Parliament Session With Scathing Critique Of Congress’ Emergency Era’

June 24, 2024, 12:03 pm

PM Modi has denounced the Emergency imposed by the Indira Gandhi government, marking its 50th anniversary as a “black spot” on India’s democracy. As the nation prepares for the upcoming Parliament session, PM Modi emphasized the need for a responsible Opposition and stressed on substantive debate over slogans and drama in Parliament.

#WATCH | PM Narendra Modi says, “Tomorrow is 25th June. 25th June marks 50 years of the blot that was put on the democracy of India. The new generation of India will never forget that the Constitution of India was completely rejected, every part of the Constitution was torn to… pic.twitter.com/FelYrEut2s

— ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2024

Reflecting on his government’s third consecutive term, PM Narendra Modi expressed gratitude to the electorate for their trust and vowed to redouble efforts in delivering results. He underscored the significance of this electoral mandate as only the second government post-Independence to secure a third consecutive term.

Addressing newly elected MPs, PM Narendra Modi called for concerted efforts towards public welfare and unity, urging them to uphold parliamentary decorum in the newly constructed Parliament building where they will take oath for the first time.

The Prime Minister’s remarks set the tone for the upcoming legislative session, emphasizing national unity and the protection of democratic values on the anniversary of a pivotal moment in Indian history.

18th Lok Sabha First Session: INDIA bloc leaders including Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, protest in Parliament premises

June 24, 2024, 11:41 am

All MPs from the Opposition INDIA bloc are set to enter the Lok Sabha together on the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha, starting on Monday, according to sources. They plan to gather near the Mahatma Gandhi statue and may carry copies of the Constitution.

This morning, Congress MPs will also convene at the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) office in Parliament House.

INDIA bloc leaders, including Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, staged a protest on the Parliament premises.

#WATCH | Delhi: INDIA bloc leaders including Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, protest in Parliament premises pic.twitter.com/QoFKaoavR0

— ANI (@ANI) June 24, 2024

The inaugural session of the 18th Lok Sabha, beginning today, will feature the swearing-in of newly-elected Members of Parliament, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A “Swagatam” cutout has been placed at the Parliament Makar Dwar to welcome the newly elected MPs.

Expectations for the 1st Session of the 18th Lok Sabha

The first session is anticipated to be contentious, with the opposition likely to challenge the BJP-led NDA government on issues such as the Speaker’s election, allegations of paper leaks in NEET-UG and UGC-NET, and disputes over the appointment of the pro-tem Speaker.

President Droupadi Murmu will administer the oath to Bharatiya Janata Party lawmaker Bhartruhari Mahtab as the pro-tem Speaker of the Lok Sabha. Subsequently, Mahtab will invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Leader of the Lok Sabha, to take oath as a member.

On June 26, the Lok Sabha Speaker will be elected. President Murmu is scheduled to address the joint sitting of both houses of Parliament on June 27.

This marks the first session of the 18th Lok Sabha following the general elections, in which the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured 293 seats and the INDIA bloc won 234, with the Congress holding 99 of them.

INDIA Bloc Leaders Plan Agenda for Second Day of Parliament Session

December 5, 2023, 12:27 pm

In a high-stakes meeting ahead of the winter session’s second day, the INDIA bloc Parliamentary leaders convened at the office of the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge. A significant gathering spearheaded by Congress President Kharge included AAP MP Raghav Chadha, who saw the revocation of his Rajya Sabha suspension, along with several other prominent leaders.

Amidst this, Congress MP Manish Tewari moved an Adjournment Motion Notice in the Lok Sabha, demanding a discussion on the death penalty for eight former Indian Navy personnel in Qatar. Tewari expressed his concern, highlighting the lack of government response for over 14 months on this pressing matter.

The Central government is gearing up to introduce the Jammu and Kashmir Reservation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, and the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2023, for consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set to present both Bills, aiming to amend the existing Acts about Jammu and Kashmir.

Meanwhile, the initial day of the Winter Session witnessed the passage of two bills in the Lok Sabha. Notably, the Rajya Sabha opted to lift the suspension of AAP MP Raghav Chadha. Additionally, standing committee reports on critical bills were tabled, setting the stage for their passage during this session.

In a recent development, Rajya Sabha approved the bill for the repeal of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898, amidst opposition’s concerns over privacy. The bill, passed through a voice vote, outlines the services and liabilities of India Post, emphasizing the necessity of government-prescribed rules and charges.

Simultaneously, Lok Sabha passed the Advocates (Amendment) Bill, 2023, aligned with the government’s agenda to repeal obsolete laws. The move incorporates crucial provisions from the Legal Practitioners Act, 1879, into the Advocates Act, 1961, streamlining legislative enactments in the statute book.

Parliament Special Session: PM Modi recalls Nehru, Vajpayee, Indira in his speech

September 18, 2023, 1:54 pm

In discussing India’s 75-year parliamentary journey, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recalled former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s historic remarks.

The echo of Nehru’s ‘tryst with destiny’ speech to mark India’s liberation from colonial rule, according to Modi, will continue to inspire us.

“The echo of Pandit (Jawahlal) Nehru’s ‘at the stroke of midnight’ in this Parliament will continue to inspire us.

“And this is that very Parliament where Atal Ji said ‘sarkaren aayengi, jayengi; partiyan banegi, bigedgi; magar ye desh rahna chahiye’ (governments will come and go; parties will form and dissolvel; but the country should remain),” Prime Minister Modi said in Lok Sabha.

PM Modi’s speech also had a somber moment when he recalled three former prime ministers who died while in office.

“When this Parliament lost three serving PMs — Nehru ji, Shastri ji and Indira ji — they were given fitting tribute,” PM Modi said.

“From Nehru to Shastri to Vajpayee, this Parliament has seen several leaders presenting their vision of India. This session is short but based on the timing, it is very big,” PM told the media, without elaborating.

The Parliament is debating its 75-year journey, including accomplishments, experiences, memories, and lessons learned.

Prime Minister Modi had earlier stated that the Parliament session would witness “historic decisions.”

“This session of the Parliament is short but going by the time, it is huge. This is a session of historic decisions. A speciality of this session is that the journey of 75 years is starting from a new destination,” the prime minister said.

“Now, while taking forward the journey from a new place…we have to make the country a developed country by 2047. For this, all the decisions of the time to come will be taken in the new Parliament building,” he added.

Special Parliament Session to begin with new uniforms for staff

September 13, 2023, 12:31 pm

As the Parliament Session starts next week on September 18, the staff will be visible wearing new uniforms, according to sources. According to sources, new uniforms will be worn by marshals, drivers, officers, and chamber attendants. The new dress code calls for khaki trousers, cream-colored jackets, cream shirts with pink lotus motifs, brightly colored sarees with jackets for women, and turbans for marshals. Instead of safari suits, security guards at the Parliament building will now wear uniform-style clothing with a camouflage pattern.

On September 18, the special session of Parliament will begin in the old building; however, on September 19, in honor of Ganesh Chaturthi, it will move to the new building. On May 28 of this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi officially opened the new Parliament building. In the meantime, a political debate over the new dress code for Parliament employees has erupted, with the opposition Congress party raising objections to the clothing’s use of a lotus motif.

Private Consumption stood at 58.4 per cent: Economic Survey

January 31, 2023, 3:59 pm

Private Consumption as a percentage of GDP stood at 58.4 per cent in the second quarter OF FY23, the highest among the second quarters of all the years since 2013-14 supported by a rebound in contact -intensive services such as trade, hotel and transport survey points to the lower forecast for growth in global trade by the World Trade Organisation from 3.5 per cent in 2022 to 1.0 per cent in 2023

Economic Survey to be tabled before the budget today

January 31, 2023, 11:52 am

The Economic Survey will be tabled on Tuesday after the President’s address. At an all-party meeting convened by it on Monday, the government said it was willing to discuss every issue under the rules during the Budget Session of Parliament.

“We seek the Opposition’s cooperation” in running the proceedings smoothly, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said after the meeting which was attended by 37 leaders, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, representing 27 parties.

At the meeting, Aam Aadmi Party’s Sanjay Singh, RJD’s Manoj Jha, DMK, Left parties and others raised the Adani issue and sought a discussion on it in Parliament during the session.

The US-based short seller Hindenburg Research has accused the Adani Group of wrongdoings like stock manipulation. The company has dismissed the allegations as “nothing but a lie”.

Parties like the BRS and DMK raised the issue of conduct of governors in states ruled by them.

The YSR Congress demanded a nationwide caste-based economic census.

It is necessary to know the economic status of backward castes which are “lagging behind” on social and development indicators, the party said.

Budget Session 2023 begins with President Murmu’s speech

January 31, 2023, 11:46 am

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman would be presenting the budget tomorrow. This will be the last detailed union budget before the BJP government contest the general elections next year. The session for the same began today with the address of President Droupadi Murmu in th joint sitting of both the houses.

There are lots of expectations from this year’s budget, however, the opposition is likely to corner the government on issues including Adani-Hindenburg row, a nationwide caste-based economic census and the women’s reservation bill.

The government plans to bring around 36 bills – including four related to the budgetary exercise – during the session.

The session will have 27 sittings and will continue till April 6 with a month-long recess to examine the budget papers.

The first part of the session will conclude on February 14. Parliament will reconvene on March 12 for the second part of the Budget Session.