July 22, when the BJP-led NDA government will table the Economic Survey for 2023-24. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the union budget the following day. The session will end on August 12.
Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju announced the dates Saturday in a post on microblogging site X. ET reported on June 12 that the budget session would be held during these days.
The government is widely expected to continue its broad policy direction and reforms, while focusing also on fiscal consolidation. But given the BJP’s lack of a majority of its own in the Lok Sabha and the upcoming state elections, the budget will be watched for possible populist measures and what it offers to Andhra Pradesh and Bihar, ruled by parties whose support is crucial for the government’s survival.
‘Many Historic Steps’
Telugu Desam Party supremo and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu visited the national capital and met Prime Minister Modi and top union ministers including Sitharaman earlier this week, and made several demands for the state, including enhanced financial assistance.
Last month, the JD(U) passed a resolution seeking a “special status” or “special package” for Bihar from the Centre. In a joint address to both houses of Parliament last month, President Droupadi Murmu said that the budget would be marked by many historic steps. Major social and economic decisions would be a highlight of the budget, she said.
An interim budget was presented in February due to the Lok Sabha polls, which were held in April-June. Talking to ET, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said he hoped parliamentarians would raise the level of debates and discussion in the upcoming session following rules and procedures of the house.
Meanwhile, in a post on X, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha leader Derek O’Brien said it was the government’s duty to run Parliament smoothly in the budget session, and that it must offer the deputy speaker post in the Lok Sabha to the opposition’s INDIA bloc.
