Budget session begins today: Opposition demands discussion on farmers issue
New Delhi : The much-awaited Budget Session of the Parliament will begin from today with the President addressing both the houses. The session has been bifurcated into 2 parts and will end on April 8; first half of the session will run till February 11 and the second session will begin from March 14.
Amid coronavirus scare, the MPs have to mandatorily carry a negative RT-PCR report or a double dose vaccination certificate to attend the session.
What to expect on Day 1?
President Ram Nath Kovind will be addressing both the houses on Day 1. Before the President's address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing the media to give a brief about the topics to be discussed in the session.
Later in the day, Finance Ministry will table the Economic Survey 2021-22. For the unversed, the Economic Survey this year has been prepared by the Principal Economic Advisor and other officials in absence of the Chief Economic Adviser (CEA). On Saturday, the Central government-appointed economist V Anantha Nageswaran as the new CEA.
The union budget will be presented at 11 AM on February 1, 2022.
Opposition plan ahead of Budget session
From the first day itself, the opposition parties have made up their mind to target the government over Pegasus, farmers issue and border dispute with China. The Pegasus row had led to a washout of the last Monsoon session when a united opposition did not allow both houses to function and sought a discussion on the matter.
No Zero Hour and Question Hour
A Parliament bulletin released on Friday reads, "There shall be no ‘Zero Hour’ on January 31 and February 1, 2022. Members are informed that owing to the address of the President, during the first two days of the 8th session of the 17th Lok Sabha, there will be no ‘Zero Hour’ on January 31 and February 1, 2022."
"Members are informed that matters of urgent public importance raised during ‘Zero Hour’ will be taken up from February 2, 2022. However, it is for information of members that, to raise matters of urgent public importance during ‘Zero Hour’ on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, they may table notices on Tuesday, February 1, 2022, between 10:00 hours and 18:00 hours either online through e-portal or manually in the Parliamentary Notice Office," it added.
