Budget Session Update: BJP and Congress Issue Whip for MPs

Key Developments in the Upcoming Budget Session

On Friday, both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress party issued a 'three-line whip' to their Lok Sabha members, mandating their presence in the House from March 9 to March 11 during the second phase of the budget session. This phase is set to commence on March 9 and will continue until April 2, focusing primarily on essential legislative discussions and other proceedings.

The first phase of the budget session concluded on February 13, featuring political debates on the interim trade agreement between India and the United States, as well as discussions surrounding the memoirs of former Army Chief MM Naravane, which sparked controversy even outside Parliament.

Parliamentary Schedule and Discussions

The budget session of Parliament, which began on January 28 with a joint address by the President to both Houses, spans 65 days and includes 30 meetings, concluding on April 2. During the recess, standing committees will review grant requests from various ministries and departments. The initial part of the session was primarily dedicated to discussions on the 2026-27 budget and the motion of thanks for the President's address.

Before the session commenced, the India Block discussed transitioning MGNREGA to the Developed India Guarantee Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) (VB-G Ram Ji) Act and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls. During the President Draupadi Murmu's address, opposition parties protested against the termination of MGNREGA in a 'dignified' manner. On February 1, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the central budget for 2026-27 in the Lok Sabha, marking her ninth consecutive budget presentation.

Statements Presented by the Finance Minister

The Finance Minister also presented two statements before the House under Section 3(1) of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act, 2003. These included the Medium-Term Fiscal Policy-cum-Fiscal Strategy Statement and the Macro-Economic Framework Statement.