CCPA to meet today to decide on Budget Session dates

The Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs will meet today to decide on dates for the Budget Session of Parliament.

The NDA Government will be presenting its first full-year Budget, which is expected to lay the foundation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Make in India' plans.

The Budget Session will be divided into two sessions - the first part will be about a month long, before Parliament breaks for a recess. The session will then resume in mid- April.

Top ministers met on Tuesday to discuss replacing ordinances or emergency executive orders that the government has issued and now needs to get Parliament's approval for.

At the meeting called by Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu, the ministers discussed the implications on some sectors like coal if the ordinances are not followed up by bills being passed in Parliament.

The government has issued at least ten ordinances after failing to get a number of key legislation through the Rajya Sabha, where it is in a minority. At least six of these will lapse if they are not passed in the first part of the Budget Session.

Meanwhile, President Pranab Mukherjee has cautioned that the Constitution grants the government limited powers to issue ordinances in exigencies.

He has also rapped the Opposition for disrupting Parliament and not allowing important policies to be framed.

It was reportedly decided at yesterday's meeting that all bills to replace these ordinances must be ready by February 1 so that they can be put up for Parliament's approval on the first day of the budget session.

It is being reported that the government is not keen to use a rare joint session of Parliament to push the ordinances through.

In a joint session the NDA Government, with its massive majority in the Lok Sabha, can ensure the passage of the bills.