Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha will adjourn for a break during the ongoing budget session, reassembling on the 9th of next month. The budget session is being held in two phases: the first phase began on January 28 with President Droupadi Murmu's address to a joint session of both houses. The second phase will continue until April 2nd.
Yesterday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman responded to a discussion on the Union Budget in the Rajya Sabha. She stated that the government is focused on building a resilient and self-reliant India by boosting economic growth and ensuring inclusive development. Ms. Sitharaman added that high growth has been maintained while keeping inflation low.
Citing estimates from the National Statistics Office, the Finance Minister said that India's GDP is projected to grow at 7.4 per cent in 2025-26. She further stated that retail inflation has eased to 2 per cent, reflecting strong economic fundamentals.
The Finance Minister refuted the opposition's charge of curtailing expenditure in various welfare schemes. She stated that adequate budget allocations have been made for social schemes. She also dismissed allegations of pressure on the middle class, stating that reforms under the NDA government have led to its expansion.
Ms. Sitharaman said that unemployment has declined from 5.6 per cent in 2017-18 to 3.2 per cent in 2023-24, indicating that the economy is generating jobs. The Minister also announced plans to rejuvenate 200 legacy industrial clusters.
In the Lok Sabha, noisy scenes were witnessed between members of the treasury bench and the opposition bench, following which the house was adjourned for the day.
Amid the din, the House took up matters of urgent public importance, after passing the Industrial Relations Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026. BJP MP Nishikant Dubey raised the issue of a motion against the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi.
Mr. Dubey alleged that Mr. Gandhi has links with the Soros Foundation and the Ford Foundation. He further claimed that Mr. Gandhi frequently levels allegations against constitutional institutions, including the Election Commission, the Supreme Court, and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
Demanding a discussion on Mr. Gandhi's conduct, Mr. Dubey said that Rahul Gandhi's membership should be cancelled and he should be barred from contesting elections in the future. The remarks led to strong protests from opposition members.