Budget Session of Parliament has commenced today, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the Economic Survey in the Lok Sabha

The Budget Session of Parliament begins today and will conclude on August 12th, featuring 16 sittings primarily dedicated to the financial business related to the Union Budget for 2024–25. On the first day, the Economic Survey 2023–24 will be tabled, providing statistical information and analysis on various economic sectors. Tomorrow, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget 2024–25 in the Lok Sabha, marking the first budget of the Narendra Modi government in its third term. Additionally, the Budget for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for 2024 will also be presented.

During this session, the government plans to introduce six new bills, including the Disaster Management (Amendment) Bill, the Boilers Bill, the Bhartiya Vayuyan Vidheyak, the Coffee (Promotion and Development) Bill, and the Rubber (Promotion and Development) Bill.

Yesterday, an all-party meeting was held in New Delhi to ensure the smooth functioning of both houses. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that the government is ready to debate any issue with an open heart and emphasized the responsibility of both the government and the opposition to run Parliament smoothly. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Deputy Leader of the House in the Lok Sabha, thanked the leaders for raising important issues and stressed the need to maintain the sanctity of Parliament.

The Congress party demanded discussions on several key issues, including the alleged NEET paper leak case, railway security, the Agniveer scheme, Centre-State relations, and the security situation in Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also called for discussions on economic issues facing the country.

The Economic Survey 2023-2024, prepared by the Economic Division of the Department of Economic Affairs under the supervision of Chief Economic Adviser Dr. V. Anantha Nageswaran, will be presented today. The survey provides a detailed account of the state of the economy, including data on employment, GDP growth, inflation, and the budget deficit, and offers a growth outlook and policy challenges ahead.