New Delhi, Jan 30 : The Budget Session of Parliament will start on Monday, with restrictions in place in view of the Covid-19 pandemic situation. The first half of the session, which starts Monday, will conclude on February 8. In view of Covid-19 related protocols, sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will be held alternately, and arrangements will be made for members to sit in galleries of both Houses to maintain social distancing. From February 2 to February 11, the Rajya Sabha will sit from 10 am to 3 pm, and Lok Sabha is scheduled to sit from 4.00 pm. to 9.00 pm. Thus, five hours have been scheduled per Sitting instead of normal 6 hours during the First Part of the Budget Session.
There will be 10 sitting in the first half of budget session. The President will address both Houses of Parliament assembled together at 1 am on Monday. Half-an-hour after President’s Address, the Lok Sabha will sit for transaction of Business, and the Economic Survey 2021-22 will be laid by Union Finance Minister. The Budget will be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on February 1 at 11 am.
There will be two major items of Business during the First Part of the Budget Session – Discussion on Motion of Thanks on President’s Address and General Discussion on Budget. During 2020, 12 hours were allotted for Discussion on Motion of Thanks while the discussions took 15 hours and 21 minutes. Similarly, during 2021, 10 hours were allotted for the discussion on Motion of Thanks, while it took 16 hours and 58 minutes, the Lok Sabha secretariat said. The second half of the session will start on March 13 and end on April 8.
