Ahead of the Budget Session for 2025-26, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the media on Friday, highlighting that this is the first Parliament session since 2014 where he has observed “no foreign interference” in India’s affairs.
In his remarks, PM Modi said, “This is the first Parliament session where we have seen no foreign interference trying to spark unrest. Since 2014, I had witnessed foreign forces attempting to intervene during every budget session, but this time there is no such influence.”
Emphasizing the government’s focus on all-round development, PM Modi stated that the third term of his leadership will concentrate on “geographical, social, and economic” growth, with a special emphasis on innovation, inclusion, and investment. He added, “The 3Is – Innovation, Inclusion, and Investment – have played a pivotal role in India’s economic growth.”
In his speech, the Prime Minister reiterated the importance of reform, performance, and transformation in achieving accelerated development. “Reform, perform, and transform—these are key to advancing at the pace we need. Both central and state governments must perform, and transformation can be realized through public participation.”
PM Modi also previewed the upcoming session of Parliament, noting that several historic bills would be discussed, including those aimed at enhancing the rights of women and ensuring their equality in society. He stressed that these legislative actions would strengthen the nation and reaffirm the pride of women. “We will focus on decisions that secure the dignity of women and provide them with equal rights,” the Prime Minister affirmed.
Looking toward India’s future, PM Modi expressed optimism for the country’s youth, stating that the young generation of today will be the greatest beneficiaries of India’s vision for a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) by the time they reach the age of 50. “Our nation is young, and today’s 20-25-year-olds will be the driving force behind policy decisions in the future,” he said. He called the ongoing budget session a “golden opportunity” for Members of Parliament (MPs), particularly young MPs, to contribute to the nation’s development.
The Budget session officially began with President Droupadi Murmu’s address to a joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament. Following this, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Economic Survey, offering insights into India’s economic state and projections for the coming fiscal year.
The session will also see the introduction of several important bills, including the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aimed at enhancing banking regulations; the Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024, focused on improving Indian Railways’ operational efficiency; and the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, 2024, designed to strengthen disaster response across the country.
Other key proposals include the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, which seek reforms in the management of religious endowments, alongside other major legislative initiatives.
The first part of the Budget session will run until February 13, with Parliament reconvening on March 10 after a recess, concluding on April 4.
(With ANI inputs)
