Historic first as Parliament witnesses Sunday Budget presentation
Budget Session Begins Today: President Droupadi Murmu to address joint sitting of Parliament: The Budget Session of Parliament begins today with President Droupadi Murmu’s address to a joint sitting of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. In her address, the President will outline the government’s achievements and present a roadmap of future policies and priorities, setting the tone for the crucial Budget Session.
This year’s Budget Session is historic as, for the first time in India’s parliamentary history, the Union Budget will be presented on a Sunday. On February 1, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will table the General Budget, marking her ninth consecutive Budget presentation since assuming office.
Another notable departure from tradition is the timing of the Economic Survey, which will be presented in Parliament three days before the Budget following the President’s address. This change is being seen as a new experiment, aimed at providing lawmakers with more time to study the economic outlook ahead of Budget discussions.
Budget Session divided into two phases
Ahead of the Budget, the traditional Halwa Ceremony was held at North Block, attended by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The ceremony symbolizes the formal commencement of the confidential printing and processing of Budget documents, a long-standing parliamentary tradition.
The Budget Session will be conducted in two phases. The first phase will run from today until February 13, after which Parliament will adjourn for a recess. During this break, Parliamentary Standing Committees will conduct a detailed examination of the Budget proposals.
The second phase of the Budget Session is expected to begin on March 9 and will continue until April 2, during which discussions and voting on Budget-related demands will take place.
With the government officially declaring February 1 as ‘Budget Day’, expectations are high from Finance Minister Sitharaman’s upcoming Budget, which is likely to include key economic decisions amid domestic and global challenges.
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