Parliament Live: Budget session commenced today with President Ramnath Kovind's address
The Economic Survey tabled on the first day of the budget session in Parliament, expects GDP or gross domestic product growth to accelerate between 7 per cent and 7.5 per cent in the coming fiscal year, starting April 1, 2018. Soon after the report was tabled, Lok Sabha was adjourned till Thursday. Later, Rajya Sabha was also adjourned. The budget session started off with President Ramnath Kovind addressing a joint-sitting of both the houses of the parliament. In his speech, the President said the country has been able to achieve economic growth despite slowdown in the global economy. Highlighting the achievements of the government, President Kovind said India's forex reserves have surpassed $ 410 billion.
"Government is committed to doubling of farmers' income by 2022. To ensure remunerative price to farmers for their produce, the agriculture mandis are being connected online. So far, agricultural commodities valued at about 36,000 crore have been traded on e-NAM portal," he said. He noted that as a result of government s policies and the hardwork of farmers, a record production of more than 275 million tonnes of food grain and about 300 million tonnes of horticultural produce have been achieved in the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers, Deputy Speaker M Thambidurai, opposition leaders Mallikarjun Kharge, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Sudip Bandopadhyay and Farooq Abdullah were among others present in the House.
The House will meet on February 1 when the general budget for 2018-19 will be presented by the finance minister. Before the House was assembled, the prime minister, accompanied by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar, went to the opposition benches and greeted the leaders. PM Modi also greeted the members of the treasury benches before the House assembled as well as after it was adjourned for the day. The session is likely to conclude on April 6, with 31 sittings spread over 68 days. Parliament will be adjourned for a recess on February 9 and reassemble on March 5.
Here are the Highlights of the day 1 of budget session:
The President's Address: Farmers, Jobs, Women On Government's AgendaAddressing the joint session of parliament on the first day of budget session, President Ramnath Kovind gave an overview of what to expect in Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's fifth budget, the last full-fledged one, before the country votes for the general elections in 2019. The government's list of priorities before heading to parliamentary elections has farmers, jobs, women along with bijli-sadak-pani and schemes for the minorities, the disabled and the elderly. Highlighting the government's flagship Aadhaar scheme, President Kovind said, the unique identity number has helped in securing the rights of the poor by eliminating middlemen and till now more than Rs 57,000 crore have been prevented from going into the wrong hands.
Meanwhile, recently elected AAP members to Rajya Sabha from Delhi Sanjay Singh, Sushil Gupta and N D Gupta took oath as the members of parliament.
Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till Thursday.
GDP to expand by 6.75% in 2017-18, re-instating India as world's fastest growing major economy, says Economic Survey tabled in Parliament.
Economic Survey pegs 2018-19 GDP growth at 7-7.5 per cent. It says current high oil prices a major concern.
Lok Sabha has been adjourned till Thursday after Economic Survey was tabled in the house by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
Economic Survey 2017-18 has been tabled in Lok Sabha by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.
While only 76 airports of the country were connected with commercial flights since Independence, under 'UDAN', work has been initiated to connect 56 airports and 31 helipads in a short span of 15 months. So far, flights have commenced from 16 such airports: President Kovind
My government has approved setting up of a 'National Testing Agency' as an autonomous and self-sufficient organisation to conduct all examinations of higher educational institutions in the country: President Kovind in Parliament. Watch full speech here.
Government has introduced insurance schemes for the poor at a premium of Rs 1 per month and 90 paise per day. More than 18 crore poor have been covered under 'Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana' and 'Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana': President Kovind
Our fight against corruption is continuing. In the past one year, registration of about 3,50,000 suspicious companies have been cancelled: President Kovind
I appreciate the soldiers and offer condolences to those who lost their lives in action. Jammu and Kashmir police, defence and paramilitary forces are working together to fight terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir: President Kovind
Service to humanity is an integral part of India's cultural heritage. Because of these values, India has always remained the first responder in times of crises, such as the earthquake in Nepal, flood calamity in Sri Lanka and drinking water crisis in Maldives: President Kovind.
Aadhaar has helped in securing the rights of the poor by eliminating middlemen. At present, digital payments are being carried out in more than 400 schemes of the government: President Kovind.
Resolving the problems of farmers and raising their standard of living has been a top priority for my government. My government's plans are not limited to reducing the concern and issues faced by farmers, but also decreasing their expenditure on farming: President Kovind
Kumbh Mela was included in the list of 'Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity'. Last year, UNESCO accorded Ahmedabad the status of India's first 'Heritage City'. Chennai, on account of its glorious tradition of music, has been included in the list of creative cities by UNESCO: President Kovind
My government has increased the minimum wage of workers by more than 40 per cent. The number of registers for compliance of labour laws has also been reduced from 56 to 5. All returns are now filed online on the Shram Suvidha Portal: President Kovind.
My government has stressed on encouraging and promoting the poor and the middle class towards self-employment, by providing a loan without a bank guarantee. This has helped the people to easily take loans to realize their dream of running their own businesses and enterprises: President Kovind while adressing joint sitting of parliament.
Education provides the foundation for building the future of the Nation. My government is committed to strengthening and modernising school and higher education system in the country: President Kovind
Through the 'Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadhi' Kendras, 800 different medicines are being made available to the poor people at affordable rates. More than 3 thousand such kendras have been established in the country: President Kovind
The Government has taken a major step by changing the Maternity Benefit Act. A provision of 26 weeks leave has been made for women, including salary in place of 12 weeks. Now working women will get more time to care for their newborns, says President Kovind.
My government started the 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' scheme to end discrimination with daughters. Looking at the positive result of this scheme, its scope has now been increased from 161 districts to 640 districts: President Kovind in parliament.
'Prime Minister Ujjwala Yojna' has given poor women an opportunity to benefit from facilities and help solve an unseen side of social injustice. So far, 30 million more gas connections have been provided under this scheme: President Kovind in Parliament.
The dignity of Muslim women have remained hostage to political gains and losses for many decades. Now the country has got an opportunity to get rid of this situation, says President Kovind.
My government has presented a bill in relation to Triple Talaq. I hope Parliament will soon make it legal, so that Muslim sisters and daughters will be able to live a fearless life with self respect: President Kovind in Parliament.
We all have the obligation that, when the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi is celebrated in 2019, we should make our country clean and express our sincere reverence towards Pujya Bapu: President Kovind in parliament.
Baba Saheb Ambedkar used to say that without economic and social democracy, political democracy is unstable: President Kovind while addressing joint sitting of parliament ahead of budget session.
PM Narendra Modi's Push For Triple Talaq Ahead Of Budget Session, "For Muslim Women"Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in comments ahead of the budget session of parliament, urged all parties to help pass the Triple Talaq law, and said, "we have to pass this bill and protect Muslim women". PM Modi also said the budget will add new vigour to India's development and will fulfil aspirations of people. "We should rise above politics and make most use of our healthy system of parliamentary committees and have proactive discussions," he said. The last full budget before the 2019 general election will be presented on February 1.
President Ram Nath Kovind leaves for Parliament. He will address the Joint Sitting of both houses of parliament shortly. Soon after his address Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will table the Economic Survey.
The Budget Will Add New Vigour To India's Development: PM Modi
This budget session is important. The world is extremely optimistic about India. The budget will add new vigour to India's development and will fulfill aspirations of people, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Rise Above Politics And Petty Differences: PM Modi
Ahead of the budget session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "I appeal to all parliamentarians to rise above politics and petty differences and give the nation the impetus it needs to grow at a fast pace. I look forward to healthy discussions and a constructive approach from all fellow parliamentarians in order to pass some key and crucial bills."
Let us begin 2018's first parliament session by giving strength to our Muslim sisters by empowering them with the passage of the Triple Talaq bill, said PM Modi in parliament. Th budget session of parliament will begin today.
PM Modi arrives in Parliament, speaks to media persons ahead of budget session. The budget session of parliament will begin today.
Opposition Plans To Corner Government
Meanwhile, the opposition has said it has planned to counter the government on issues such as incidents of rape and other atrocities on women, alleged attacks on the constitution and constitutional institutions and the plight of traders, besides the recent incident of violence in Uttar Pradesh. The opposition has also asked the government to allow a discussion on these issues during the Budget session. Leaders of the opposition parties are likely to meet today to push for unity and to discuss ways to together corner the government.
Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian will present the highlights of the Economic Survey at 1 pm today. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will be tabling the annual economic report in Parliament today.
The Economic Survey will be tabled in parliament today by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and comes around 15 months after demonetisation. It is expected to entail an analytical review of demonetisation's costs and benefits. Now the currency in circulation is over 95 per cent of October 2016 levels.
Parliament Budget Session Starts Today, Centre Outlines Targets: 10 FactsPrime Minister Narendra Modi has said the government is taking the suggestions of the opposition "sincerely", Parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar told the media after an all-party meeting ahead of the budget session today. The budget -- last full-fledged one before the 2019 general elections --will be presented on February 1. The government -- which is facing opposition attack on issues including job creation and the plight of traders -- also plans to push through several key bills. These include one banning instant triple talaq and another that will give constitutional status to the Commission on Other Backward Castes.
AAP Leaders To March To Parliament Today
Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party leaders will march to Parliament today, demanding urgent and concrete action by the Centre to immediately put an end to sealing of markets in the national capital, a senior party leader said today. AAP's Delhi unit spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj said his party kept on saying that the ongoing sealing drive in Delhi was to due to conversion charges and changes are required in the Delhi Master Plan 2021.
Both of these (conversion charges and Delhi Master Plan 2021) are under the purview of the three municipal corporations, being ruled by the BJP, and the Delhi Development Authority, Mr Bharadwaj said. Conversion charge is the amount one pays to convert one category of property to another, for example from residential to commercial. Mr Bharadwaj said AAP leaders would march to Parliament today and try to put pressure on the Centre to bring in an ordinance in this regard.
Government To Push For OBC Bill In Budget Session
In the budget session, the government is also likely to make a pitch for the passage of the OBC bill, which seeks to give a constitutional status to the OBC commission. The BJP also hopes to consolidate its support among backward classes by according constitutional status to the OBC commission, which, it believes, will give it more teeth.
Shashi Tharoor Attacks PM Modi, Says It Will Be His Last Budget
Congress lawmaker Shashi Tharoor attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday and said that "this is going to be the last budget" of the Modi government, reported news agency IANS.
US Inc Urges Arun Jaitley To Reduce Tax Uncertainty For MNCsAhead of Finance Minister Arun Jaitley's last full Union Budget, the US-India Business Council (USIBC) has urged him to further reduce tax uncertainty for multinational companies and foreign investors, even as Indian industry has voiced its own areas of concern.
Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has sought the cooperation of various parties for the smooth functioning of the budget session of Parliament. Ms Mahajan made the appeal to leaders of various parties at a dinner hosted by her, a day before the start of the budget session. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and leaders of various parties attended the dinner at Parliament House Library.
"We hope that the budget session of Parliament will function smoothly. Leaders of various parties have assured of their cooperation and smooth functioning of the House," she told reporters after the dinner meeting.
She said the House would have eight sittings in the first part of the budget session, during which 19 out of a total of 36 hours would be devoted on the discussion on the vote of thanks to the President's address and the Union Budget for 2018-19.
In the budget session, the opposition plans to counter the government on rising incidents of rapes, the alleged "attack" on constitutional institutions and the plight of traders. "We want to raise these issues as they are important. The government should adopt a cooperative attitude and allow the opposition to raise these issues," Congress leader Pramod Tiwari has said.
PM Modi has said the budget session is very important and the government takes very sincerely the suggestions given about it by opposition during discussion in all party meeting, said Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar.
President Kovind Expected To Outline Government's Thrust On Development
In his address to the joint sitting of members of both houses, President Kovind is expected to outline the government's thrust on development and empowerment of people, especially those from backward and weaker sections, reported news agency PTI, quoting officials.
Focus Of Budget To Be Jobs, Farm Sector
The union budget will be presented on February 1. The focus of the budget will be job creation, small businesses and rural schemes, reported news agency Reuters, quoting officials. "The budget is likely to offer incentives to the farm sector and small businesses," Reuters quoted an official as saying.
The government on Sunday said it would "leave no stone unturned" to ensure the passage of the triple talaq bill in the budget session, and asserted that it would talk to various parties for a consensus on the issue.
The government met leaders of political parties at a meeting in Parliament House on Sunday and also sought their cooperation in ensuring the success of the crucial session during which the Union Budget would be presented.
The all-party meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley and Ananth Kumar, besides leaders of opposition and other parties.
President Ramnath Kovind to address the joint sitting of the two Houses ahead of the budget session. After that the government will table the Economic Survey.