New Delhi: Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha are all set to resume their normal sittings for the second part of the budget session starting at 11 am on March 14.
During the second part of the budget session of Parliament, the opposition is set to corner the government on several issues, including rising unemployment, reduction in interest rate on employees’ provident fund and evacuation of Indians stranded in war-torn Ukraine. ,
Top on the Centre’s agenda will be Parliament’s approval of budgetary proposals and presentation of the budget for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the budget for Jammu and Kashmir in Lok Sabha tomorrow and it is expected to be discussed in the post-lunch meeting of the House.
The government has also listed the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha.
covid curbs to stay
Following the COVID-19 protocols observed in the previous parts of the Parliament session, both the Houses will continue with most restrictions.
However, with the coronavirus situation easing significantly, both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha will sit together from 11 am, instead of two separate shifts, during the first part of the budget session from January 29 to February 11.
Both Houses of Parliament will continue to follow social distancing norms in the seating arrangement of members using both chambers and visitors’ galleries.
As per the seating arrangement, the Rajya Sabha currently has a total strength of 237 members with eight vacancies out of a total of 245 MPs. At a given time 139 (3) MPs will sit in the chamber while 98 others will be accommodated in the gallery.
Similarly, the Lok Sabha houses a total of 538 members, out of which 282 including the Prime Minister can sit in the chamber at a given time while the rest 258 can sit in the galleries.
In addition, restricted access for media with limited seating capacity in the press gallery will also continue as before. The entry of visitors to watch the proceedings of both the Houses will remain suspended.
As per official guidelines, only sitting members of both the Houses of Parliament can enter the Central Hall, barring former MPs and visitors.
In addition, limited entry for MPs and Ministers’ staff will also be followed in line with the protocol observed in previous sessions, which was put in place following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Arrangements have also been made for Covid-19 vaccination including a precautionary dose in the Parliament Annexe Building.
The budget session began days after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) swept the assembly elections in four states – Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) stormed to power in Punjab.
with agency inputs
