Budget Session of Parliament to begin today

The budget session of Parliament will be beginning today with President Pranab Mukherjee's address to members of both the houses of Parliament.

The budget session contains 44 items of financial, legislative and non-legislative business.

The bills replacing ordinances on raising the foreign investment limit in insurance, auctioning coal mines and changing the rules of land acquisition are some of the important legislations scheduled to be tabled during the session.

The Juvenile Justice (Care and protection of Children) Bill, The Labour Code on Wages Bill , The small factories (regulation of employment and condition of services) Bill, and The Labour Code on Industrial Relations Bill are also likely to come up during the session.

Meanwhile, the Government has sought cooperation from the party leaders in both the Houses for smooth functioning of the session.

Addressing the leaders of various parties in both the Houses of Parliament at a meeting convened by the government for mutual consultations on the Budget Session yesterday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that it is the collective responsibility of all parties and leaders to enable the people fulfil their hopes and aspirations through proper functioning of both the Houses of Parliament.

PM Modi also assured the leaders that all the issues and concerns raised by them will be discussed in an appropriate manner keeping in view their importance and priority.

Last evening, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan had also held a meeting of leaders of parties in the house to ensure its smooth functioning.

The first part of the budget session will continue till March 20 while the second part will commence after a month-long break from April 20 and conclude on May 8.

The Rail Budget will be presented on February 26, Economic Survey on February 27 and General Budget on February 28.