The Budget session of Parliament kicks off today, beginning with President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the joint sitting of both Houses at 11 am.
After the address, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Economic Survey at noon in the Lok Sabha, followed by its tabling in the Rajya Sabha at 2 pm.
The Economic Survey, compiled by the Department of Economic Affairs under the guidance of the Chief Economic Adviser, will provide an in-depth analysis of the 2024-25 fiscal year and projections for the next.
Several key bills are set to be introduced during this session. Among them is the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seeks to strengthen banking regulations, and the Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024, focused on enhancing the operational efficiency of Indian Railways.
The Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, will aim to improve the country’s disaster response mechanisms, while the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, are geared toward reforming the management of religious endowments.
Further legislative measures include the Oilfields (Regulation and Development) Amendment Bill, 2024, which proposes updates to oil exploration laws, and the Boilers Bill, 2024, which introduces new safety standards for industrial boilers.
A bill addressing the reallocation of assembly constituencies to better represent scheduled tribes in Goa is also on the table, along with several bills related to maritime law, such as the Bills of Lading Bill, 2024, the Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024, the Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024, and the Merchant Shipping Bill, 2024.
Central to the session will be the presentation of the Finance Bill, 2025, which will implement tax reforms and budgetary proposals for the upcoming fiscal year.
Other important bills include the Protection of Interests in Aircraft Objects Bill, 2025, which aims to safeguard financial interests in the aviation sector, and the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, which proposes changes to immigration regulations.
On the financial front, the session will feature discussions and voting on the Demands for Grants for 2025-26, a key parliamentary procedure that ensures the government’s spending plans are approved. These grants cover a wide range of areas, including infrastructure, defense, healthcare, education, and welfare programs.
Additionally, the Second and Final Batch of Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2024-25 will be reviewed, along with the Demands for Excess Grants for 2021-22, which refer to expenditures that exceeded previously approved amounts.
The first part of the Budget session will continue until February 13, after which both Houses will reconvene on March 10 following a recess, with the session expected to conclude on April 4.
After the all-party meeting convened by the government on Thursday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said that the government has identified 16 legislative items and three financial items for this session and is prepared to address any other pressing issues that may arise.
(With ANI inputs)
