The second session of the 18th Lok Sabha, which began on July 22, 2024, concluded on Friday, after 15 sittings spanning approximately 115 hours. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla delivered a valedictory address marking the end of the session, highlighting its productive nature with a productivity rate of 136 percent.
During the session, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for 2024-2025 on July 23. The ensuing general discussion on the budget lasted for 27 hours and 19 minutes, with 181 Members of Parliament (MPs) participating. The Finance Minister provided a response to the discussion on July 30.
The session also saw an in-depth examination of Demands for Grants from selected Ministries and Departments from July 30 to August 5. Following this, the House passed the Demands for Grants and the Appropriation Bill on August 5.
Throughout the session, 12 government bills were introduced, and four were passed. The bills that received approval include:
– The Finance Bill, 2024
– The Appropriation Bill, 2024
– The Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation Bill, 2024
– The Bharatiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, 2024
86 starred questions were answered orally, and 400 matters of urgent public importance were raised during the Zero Hour. A total of 358 matters were taken up under Rule 377.
The session also featured 25 statements made under Direction 73A, and 30 statements, including two by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and three suo motu statements by other Ministers. Furthermore, 1,345 papers were laid before the House.
Key discussions included a debate on India’s preparedness for the upcoming Olympic Games under Rule 193 on July 22 and a Calling Attention Motion on July 31 regarding the impact of landslides and floods across the country.
Regarding private members’ business, 65 Private Member’s Bills were introduced. A resolution by MP Shafi Parambil, concerning the regulation of airfare, was discussed on July 26 but remained inconclusive.
The session also welcomed Tulia Ackson, President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania, on August 1.
