Page 2 - Budget Session

Budget 2026: Sitharaman lays 16th Finance Commission report in Lok Sabha

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday laid the 16th Finance Commission report for tax revenue devolution between Centre and states for 2026-2031 in the Lok Sabha. The Finance Commission, which has been set up under the Constitution, provides a formula for devolution of taxes between Centre and states. Cesses and surcharge levied by the Centre are not part of the divisible pool. The Finance Commission is a constitutional body that gives suggestions on Centre-state financial relations and is set up periodically. The 16th Finance Commission, headed by former Vice-Chairman of Niti Aayog Arvind Panagariya, was set up on December 31, 2023. Led by Panagariya, Finance Commission members -- Retired bureaucrat Annie George Mathew, economist Manoj Panda, SBI Group Chief Economic Advisor Soumya Kanti Ghosh, and RBI Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar -- and Secretary to the Commission Ritvik Pandey submitted its report to President Droupadi Murmu on November 17, 2025.

Longest serving FM, Sitharaman set to present 9th consecutive Budget

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday makes history as she presents a record ninth consecutive Budget that is expected to unveil measures to sustain growth momentum, maintain fiscal discipline, and contain reforms that could buffer the economy from global trade frictions, including US tariffs. This will take Sitharaman closer to the record of 10 budgets that were presented by former Prime Minister Morarji Desai over different time periods. Desai presented six budgets during his tenure as finance minister from 1959 to 1964, and four budgets between 1967 and 1969. Former finance ministers P Chidambaram and Pranab Mukherjee had presented nine and eight budgets, respectively, under different prime ministers. Sitharaman, however, will continue to hold the record of presenting the maximum number of budgets on the trot -- nine straight budgets under Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She was in 2019 appointed as India's first full-time woman finance minister when Prime Minister Narendr

FM Sitharaman meets President for customary pre-Budget presentation meeting

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday called on President Droupadi Murmu before presenting her record ninth Budget in the Lok Sabha. As per established tradition, the finance minister met the President at the Rashtrapati Bhavan before heading to Parliament. Before going to the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Sitharaman posed with her Budget team in front of her office at Kartavya Bhavan. Wearing a magenta silk saree, she was holding a tablet in a red pouch with the national emblem, along with the Minister of State and all six Secretaries in her ministry. Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Sitharaman, along with Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary and senior officials of the Ministry of Finance, called on the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan before presenting the Union Budget. Following the meeting, she headed for a Cabinet meeting that will formally approve the Budget for 2026-27. Sitharaman continues with the tradition she set in 2019, carrying the budget spee

Budget Session 2026: 'Reform, perform, transform' guides govt, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that his government has been focusing on “reform, perform, transform” as India enters a crucial phase of its development journey.

Budget Session 2026: 'Reform, perform, transform' guides govt, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the government is focused on reform, performance and transformation as Parliament's Budget Session begins, stressing long-term solutions and growth for India

Govt on 'reforms express' path; GST 2.0 saved ₹1 trillion: President Murmu

President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said the government is moving on the path of 'Reforms Express', benefitting the poor and middle class, and the historic next-gen GST reform rolled out last year has ensured savings of Rs 1 lakh crore for citizens. In her address to both Houses of Parliament, Murmu also said the government has revamped the Income Tax law and taken a "historic decision" to exempt income of up to Rs 12 lakh from taxation. "These reforms are providing unprecedented benefits to poor and middle-class families. It has also given a new impetus to the country's economy," Murmu said. The new and simplified Income Tax Act 2025 has been enacted and will be implemented from April 1, 2026. In the 2025-26 Budget presented on February 1, last year, the government had increased the income tax exemption threshold to Rs 12 lakh from Rs 7 lakh earlier. "Today, my government is moving forward on the path of 'Reforms Express'. Old rules and provisions are being updated continuously

Prez Murmu invokes Gandhi, Nehru, Vajpayee to seek unity on national issues

President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday urged parliamentarians to stand united on the resolve for Viksit Bharat, campaign for swadeshi as well as national security, asserting that these were matters beyond all differences. Addressing a joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament, which marked the start of the Budget Session, she said the government will continue to accelerate the momentum of "reform express" and listed various economic and social initiatives taken to make India a developed nation by 2047. Murmu said the world saw the valour of Indian armed forces through Operation Sindoor when they destroyed terror camps on the strength of their own resources and asserted that any terror act will be responded with decisive action. India has proved that power can be used with responsibility and wisdom, she said. "Amid different opinions and diverse viewpoints, there has been unanimity about nothing being greater than the nation," Murmu said, addressing the Members of Parliament (MP

Oppn protests in Parliament after President Murmu mentions VB-G RAM G Act

President Droupadi Murmu's reference to the VB-G RAM G Act in her address to the joint sitting of both houses of Parliament on Wednesday sparked protests from opposition parties which raised slogans demanding a roll back of the law. In her address, the President said the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G) would provide guarantee for 125 days of work, and would also stop corruption and leakages. She also asserted that it would provide a new impetus to rural development. While the President's mention of the VB-G RAM G Act was welcomed by treasury benches by thumping of desks, Opposition members raised slogans demanding roll back of the law. President Murmu paused during her address as the opposition raised slogans like "vapas lo" (roll back the Act). The Act is set to replace the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). Opposition parties are demanding the withdrawal of the VB-G RAM G Act and restoration of MGNRE

Parliament's Budget session begins on Wednesday; pending Bills listed

Opposition parties demand discussion on SIR, MGNREGA

Congress hits out at govt over delay in sharing Budget session agenda

Congress on Tuesday flayed the government for "failing" to circulate its legislative agenda ahead of the Budget session of Parliament. Congress leader K Suresh told reporters that at the all-party meeting convened here, party leaders questioned lack of legislative agenda outlining the bills the government seeks to bring. However, Union ministers attending the meeting said the agenda will be circulated later. They told the meeting that the first part of the session will focus on debate on the Motion of Thanks and discussion on the Union Budget. While the first part of the session will begin on Wednesday with the address of President Droupadi Murmu to the joint sitting of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, the Union Budget will be presented on February 1, a Sunday. The first part of the session will continue till February 13 during which the Motion of Thanks will be discussed and passed. A discussion on the Union Budget will also be taken up. After a recess, the Houses will reconv

Centre convenes all-party meeting ahead of Budget session: Top agenda

The meeting is aimed at ensuring the smooth functioning of Parliament and managing issues that are expected to arise during the session

Ahead of Budget Session, govt convenes all-party meeting on Jan 27

Ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament, the government has called an all-party meeting on January 27 to discuss the legislative and other agendas. The Budget Session will begin on January 28, with President Draupadi Murmu's address to the joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. In a rare occasion in parliamentary history, the Union budget would be presented on February 1, which is a Sunday. This will be Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's ninth consecutive budget. "The all-party meeting, convened by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, will be held at the main committee room of Parliament House annexe at 11 am on January 27," a government source said. The Budget Session will continue till April 2. The first phase will conclude on February 13, with Parliament reassembling on March 9. The session comes at a time when the opposition Congress is conducting a nationwide campaign against the Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, which ...

Budget session of Parliament begins on January 28; to continue till April 2

The Budget session of Parliament will be held from January 28 to April 2, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said on Friday. The Budget session begins with the address of President Droupadi Murmu to the joint session of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha in the Lok Sabha chamber. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will table the Economic Survey and present the general Budget. However, Rijiju did not share details on the date of the presentation of the Budget. February 1, which has been fixed as the Budget Day, falls on a Sunday this year. Parliament will be in recess from February 13 till March 9. "On the recommendation of the Govt of India, Hon'ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu ji has approved the summoning of both the Houses of Parliament for the Budget Session 2026. "The Session will commence on 28 January 2026 and continue till 2 April 2026," Rijiju said in a post on X. "The first phase concludes on 13 February 2026, with Parliament reassembling on 9 March

Will FM Nirmala Sitharaman table the Union Budget on Sunday, February 1?

The Union Budget has been presented on February 1 since 2017, and 2026 will be the first occasion since then that it falls on a Sunday

Govt to bring stringent seed law in Budget session 2026: Shivraj Chouhan

The government plans to introduce legislation with stringent provisions to regulate seed quality during the budget session of Parliament early next year, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said on Thursday. Addressing an event on Farmers Producer Organisations (FPOs), Chouhan said the amendments are aimed at ensuring quality inputs for the farming community. The minister said about 46 per cent of the country's population still depends on farming for their livelihood, and ensuring better income to farmers is a key government priority. "We are going to bring the seed law in the budget session of parliament (early 2026)," Chouhan said, adding that there would be stringent provisions to check the sale and distribution of substandard quality seeds. He said genetically modified seeds are not allowed, and research is underway to develop better varieties. The amendments to the Seeds Act at the central government level remain under active development but have not yet been formally

Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die, marking the end of budget session

Rajya Sabha was adjourned sine die on Friday, marking the end of the Budget Session that began on January 31. In his concluding remarks at the end of the 267th session of Rajya Sabha, Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said the House passed key legislations, including the Waqf Amendment Bill, and discussed several important issues during its sittings. "The productivity of this session stood at 119 per cent. On April 3, the Rajya Sabha began proceedings and etched its name in the annals of legislative history with an unprecedented sitting from 11 am on that day until 4.02 am the following day, ie, this day, the longest in its history," Dhankhar said. He added, "This would send a very great message to the people at large and enhance belief in this great institution." Dhankhar appreciated members for participating in the debates and discourses with enlightened inputs and varying opinion shades. "After a long gap, the house witnessed welcome wit, humour, sarcasm and repartee, apart from ...

Situation in Manipur under control but can't be termed satisfactory: Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the situation in Manipur is largely under control as there has been no death in the last four months but it can't be considered satisfactory as the displaced people are still living in relief camps. Replying to a short debate in Lok Sabha, which adopted a Statutory Resolution confirming the imposition of President's rule in Manipur, Shah also said that after the imposition of President's rule in Manipur, discussions were held with the Meiteis and the Kukis and separate meetings were conducted with different organisations from both the communities. The Ministry of Home Affairs will soon convene a joint meeting, he said, adding while the government is working to find a path to end the violence, the top priority is to establish peace. President's rule in Manipur was imposed on February 13 after the then chief minister N Biren Singh resigned on February 9 following months of ethnic violence which started in May 2023. Shah said the oppositi

Highlights: Lok Sabha clears Waqf Amendment Bill after marathon debate

Parliament Budget Session updates: The government has decided to table the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in Lok Sabha today. Catch all the updates here

Waqf Bill in Lok Sabha: What is a whip and how does it work in Parliament?

As parties issue three-line whips for the Waqf Bill, here's a look at what a whip means in India's parliamentary system and what happens if MPs defy it

Parl panel flags 'low success rate' in bringing back Indian prisoners

Eight Indian prisoners were transferred from foreign countries to India between 2023 and February 13 this year, according to data shared in a report by a Parliamentary panel. It asserted that the "low success rate" in bringing back Indian prisoners "calls for an assessment" of the efforts taken for it. Citing information from the Ministry of Externa Affairs (MEA), the report said that at present, 10,152 Indian prisoners (in 86 countries) including under-trials are lodged in foreign prisons. The report of the Committee of External Affairs, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, on 'Indian Diaspora Overseas including NRIs, PIOs, OCIs and Migrant Workers: All Aspects of their Conditions and Welfare, including the Status of the Emigration Bill' was presented in Parliament on Tuesday. In its report, the panel also shared data on foreign prisoners transferred from India to their native countries over the same period, whose cumulative number stood at three. The MEA has informed the Committee