Budget Session

Budget session: LS to present reports, discuss Labour Law Amendment Bill

BJP MPs Harendra Singh Malik and Rajkumar Chahar will also present reports (in Hindi and English) of the Committee on Government Assurances

Industrial Relations Code Amendment Bill introduced in Lok Sabha

Seeking to avoid any "future unwarranted complication" over continuity of certain laws replaced by the Industrial Relations Code of 2020, an amendment bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday. Union Labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya introduced the 'Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026 through supplementary agenda soon after the Question Hour. According to statement of objects and reasons of the proposed law, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020 replaces the Trade Unions Act, 1926, the Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act, 1946 and the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, relating to trade unions, industrial employment and industrial disputes. It contains savings provisions under section 104 to ensure continuity and legal certainty. "Though the repeal has occurred by operation of section 104 of the Code itself, there is a possibility of future confusion being created on a misconceived ground that the Act delegates the power to repeal the said enactments to the .

Valsad, Navsari coastlines witnessed significant erosion: Govt to LS

More than 36 km of the coastline in Gujarat's Valsad and 24 km in Navsari experienced varying levels of erosion between 1990 and 2022, the government told Parliament on Wednesday. The information was shared by Earth Sciences Minister Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Dhaval Laxmanbhai Patel in the Lok Sabha. Singh said the 62.78-km Valsad coastline experienced 2.5 km of high erosion, 3.24 km of medium erosion and 30.88 km of low erosion, according to an assessment of the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR). The Navsari coastline, 40.88 km in length, saw 3.86 km of high erosion, 4.6 km of medium erosion and 16.18 km of low erosion, he added. According to the NCCR shoreline change classification, the region north of Udvada is identified as a high-erosion zone, while the Bhagal coastal stretch falls under the moderate-erosion category -- both are considered erosion-prone or high-risk areas. Other coastal stretches, such as ..

Parliament session: Both Houses to begin discussion on Union Budget 2026-27

Both Houses of Parliament are scheduled to begin discussion on the Union Budget 2026-27 on Monday, which was presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1.FM Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2026-27 in Lok Sabha, for the ninth consecutive time. Asserting that the Budget is driven by "Yuvashakti" and based on "three kartavyas," she proposed seven high-speed rail corridors, new dedicated freight corridors, and the operationalisation of 20 national waterways over the next five years.The Centre also announced an increase in the Securities Transaction Tax (STT) on futures and options (F & O) to discourage speculative trading.While the NDA has welcomed the Budget, the Opposition alleged an exclusion of the marginalised communities. The Secular Progressive Alliance, led by the DMK in Tamil Nadu, has called a protest against the Budget on February 12.While the Houses are scheduled for general discussion on the Budget, the Opposition MPs are likely to demand a ...

Govt's FY27 capex to focus on highways, rail, metros: Expenditure Secy

The key focus of the government's Rs 12.2 lakh crore capex for the next fiscal will be mainly on sectors like shipbuilding, national highways, railways, and metro train projects, Expenditure Secretary V Vualnam said. The government has budgeted total expenditure in 2026-27 at over Rs 53.47 lakh crore, of which about Rs 12.22 lakh crore is projected to be the capital expenditure, meaning it would be spent on building physical infrastructure. In a post-Budget interview to PTI, Vualnam said the sectors, which have huge ongoing and new projects, like the national highways, railways, and the urban sector, to the extent of metro train projects, will continue to dominate the government public capex spending in the next fiscal. "Shipbuilding has become an infrastructure sector, and will also now be a big player. We are very keen to improve our share in shipbuilding (globally). Of India's import-export cargo, just about 5 per cent goes on India-owned ships. About Rs 6 lakh crore (annually) i

Parliament Session: Lok Sabha to hold general discussion on Union Budget

The House will meet at 11 am to transact government business, beginning with Question Hour

Lok Sabha adjourned till 5 pm amid heavy sloganeering by Opposition

BJP MP Dubey said while Rahul Gandhi wants to speak about an unpublished book, he has brought a series of books to expose the Gandhi family

Rahul displays Naravane memoir, claims PM didn't fulfil his responsibility

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday cited former Army chief MM Naravane's unpublished "memoir" to claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not fulfil his responsibility during the India-China conflict in 2020 and passed the buck on to Naravane. Addressing reporters in the premises of Parliament House complex, Gandhi held up Naravane's unpublished "memoir" and said he would like the youngsters in India to know that this 'book' exists despite the government claiming otherwise. "The Speaker has said this book does not exist, the government has said it does not exist, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh ji has said this book does not exist. Every youngster in India to see this book exists," Gandhi said. He said Naravane has written the full account of what happened in Ladakh. Gandhi said he has been told that he cannot quote from this "memoir" in the Lok Sabha. "The main line is what the PM said - 'jo uchit samjho woh karo'. When the chief of army staff Gen Naravane called .

PM Modi to speak in Lok Sabha today on Motion of Thanks to President

The House has allotted 18 hours for the discussion, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to reply today

Oppn MPs to continue raising issue of Gen Naravane's unpublished 'memoirs'

Eight Opposition MPs were suspended from the Lok Sabha amid uproar over Rahul Gandhi's attempt to cite former Army chief M M Naravane's unpublished memoir

Parliament Budget session: 8 Oppn MPs suspended over 'unruly behaviour'

Eight Opposition MPs were suspended from the Lok Sabha during the Budget session for unruly behaviour after repeated disruptions and protests in the House over the President's Address debate

'Govt to tread carefully on fiscal goals post 16th FC implementation'

The central government will have to tread very carefully so that its fiscal targets and debt glide path are adhered to, considering the huge amounts that will be given to the states post the implementation of the 16th Finance Commission recommendations, Expenditure Secretary V Vualnam said on Monday. The 16th Finance Commission, headed by Arvind Panagariya, has suggested a 41 per cent share of states in Central Taxes for 5 years beginning April 1, 2026. It has also suggested doubling of local bodies' grants, while doing away with the post-devolution revenue deficit grants for states. In a post-Budget interview with PTI, Vualnam said that around Rs 14 lakh crore would be the share of states in Central tax collection as per the devolution formula of the Finance Commission. Taking into account the grants as well as other schemes, like the Centrally Sponsored Schemes and Central Sector schemes, the amount which will go to the states from the government will be upwards of Rs 25 lakh ...

USISPF welcomes Budget 2026-27, lauds trade, customs, sectoral reforms

Calling it a roadmap that strengthens India's competitiveness, boosts investment, and enhances ease of doing business, US-India Strategic Partnership Forum welcomed Union Budget

CIC, Public Enterprises Selection Board get ₹39.14 allocation in Budget

The Central Information Commission (CIC) and the Public Enterprises Selection Board (PESB) have been allocated Rs 39.14 crore in the Union Budget 2026-27, a nominal increase of around Rs 3 crore from the revised estimate of Rs 36.94 crore for 2025-26. However, the Budget Estimate for the CIC and PESB in 2025-26 was higher at Rs 42.49 crore. According to the Budget documents presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the provision is meant for establishment-related expenditure of the Central Information Commission and the Public Enterprises Selection Board. In Budget parlance, the allocations made at the time of presentation of the annual Budget are known as Budget Estimates (BE), while the updated figures, reflecting changes in revenue and expenditure during the course of the financial year, are referred to as Revised Estimates (RE). The government has also earmarked Rs 3.5 crore for the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) for the propagation of the Right to Informat

Budget places infra at heart of journey towards 'Viksit Bharat': Gadkari

Union Budget for 2026-27 places infrastructure at the heart of India's journey towards Viksit Bharat2047, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Sunday. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday presented the Union Budget 2026-27 in the Lok Sabha. "With a clear focus on connectivity, manufacturing depth, and regional balance, the Budget outlines a decisive push to build world-class, future-ready infrastructure," Gadkari said in a social media post on X. He said initiatives announced in the Budget reflect a clear vision: infrastructure not just as physical assets, but as an enabler of resilience, opportunity, and global competitiveness. The minister also said the Budget for 2026-27 outlines a decisive roadmap centred on farmers, youth, and MSMEs, strengthening the foundations of inclusive growth, innovation, and capital investment as India progresses towards.

Budget 2026 lays roadmap for building developed India by 2047: Amit Shah

Shah said the Budget demonstrates that the vision of an "Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat" is not merely a slogan but a firm resolve of the government

Sitharaman proposes Infra Risk Guarantee Fund to boost private investment

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitahraman on Sunday proposed to set up an Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund to provide calibrated partial credit guarantees to lenders. Sitharaman in her Budget speech said during this past decade, the government has undertaken several initiatives for large-scale enhancement of public infrastructure, including through new financing instruments such as Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InVITs) and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) and institutions like NIIF and NABFID. "To strengthen the confidence of private developers regarding risks during infrastructure development and construction phase, I propose to set up an Infrastructure Risk Guarantee Fund to provide prudently calibrated partial credit guarantees to lenders," she said. Noting that cities are India's engines of growth, innovation, and opportunities, she said the government will now focus on Tier-II and Tier-III cities, and even temple-towns, which need modern infrastructure and basic ...

No allocation for Chabahar project in Budget amid US' sanctions on Iran

In a departure from the past, India has not allocated any funds for the Chabahar port project in its Union Budget, a move that came against the backdrop of Washington's fresh sanctions on Iran. In the last few years, India has been making an annual outlay of Rs 100 crore to the mega connectivity project in the Sistan-Balochistan province in Iran's southern coast. India is a major partner in development of the Chabahar port. In September last year, the US imposed crippling economic sanctions on Iran but had granted India a six-month exemption from the punitive measures on the Chabahar port project. The waiver will come to an end on April 26. Last month, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said New India is engaged with the US on the issue related to the Chabahar port project. It is learnt that India was mulling various options relating to the project after Trump administration threatened a 25 per cent additional tariff on countries doing business with Tehran. T

Budget 2026-27 places Odisha firmly at heart of India's growth story: BJP

The ruling BJP in Odisha on Sunday asserted that the Union Budget 2026-27 has placed the state firmly at the heart of India's growth story. "It reflects a clear and confident vision to transform Odisha into a strategic engine of eastern India's development," Odisha BJP spokesperson Anil Biswal said. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Budget in the Lok Sabha earlier in the day. Biswal said the announcement of 20 new inland waterways, beginning with Odisha, will unlock immense potential for inland transport, trade, and the coastal economy, giving a decisive push to logistics efficiency and regional commerce. "The East Coast Freight Corridor in Odisha is a true game-changer. It will strengthen ports, boost MSMEs, create large-scale employment, and position Odisha as a critical logistics hub in the national supply chain," he asserted. The BJP leader said equally significant is the dedicated rare earth corridor, which will establish Odisha as a strategic centre for clean

Heritage Foods hails Budget as watershed moment for dairy, livestock sector

Heritage Foods Ltd Executive Director Brahmani Nara on Sunday welcomed the Union Budget 2026, describing it as a watershed moment for India's dairy and livestock sectors. Heritage Foods Ltd is promoted by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's family members. Nara said the budget reflects several strategic priorities highlighted in the company's pre-budget expectations and goes beyond numbers to focus on empowering dairy farmers, strengthening rural resilience, and promoting sustainable, inclusive growth. "The Union Budget 2026 marks a significant milestone for India's dairy and livestock sectors," she said in a press release. The scaling up of veterinary capacity through new colleges, hospitals, laboratories and para-vet networks directly addresses the severe shortage of veterinarians in the country, she said, adding that the move would help bridge the gap between existing and required veterinary strength. The expansion of veterinary infrastructure, along with enhanc