NEW DELHI, Jan 30: Ahead of the Budget Session of Parliament, the Centre has convened an all-party meeting today, January 30, to ensure the smooth functioning of the upcoming session.

The Budget Session will begin on January 31, with President Droupadi Murmu addressing both Houses of Parliament on Friday, officially kicking off the proceedings. Following this, the Finance Minister will present the “Economic Survey” on Friday, January 31, and will present the General Budget the next day, on February 1. The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will then engage in discussions on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address on Monday, February 3.

Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju confirmed the meeting, emphasizing its importance for maintaining order during the session. He also mentioned that the session will be divided into two phases. The first phase will begin on January 31 and continue until February 13, with the Union Budget slated for presentation on February 1. The second phase will commence on March 10 and conclude on April 4.

In a statement, the Parliamentary Bulletin outlined that discussions on the Motion of Thanks for the President’s Address will take place on February 3, 4, and 6, with a reply expected on February 6. A member will move the motion, which will be seconded by another member.

Minister Rijiju also urged cooperation from opposition leaders to facilitate constructive debates during the session. He expressed optimism about the Union Budget, expecting that Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present a balanced and comprehensive budget. Rijiju reflected on the previous winter session, which saw disruptions in Parliament, and called for smoother functioning this time. “In the last two sessions, there was some ‘hungama’ in the Parliament which created a poor image of our Parliament,” Rijiju said. He appealed to opposition leaders and all MPs to actively participate in the discussions and allow the Parliament to function without disruptions.