Budget session highlights: PM predicts at least 370 seats for BJP in LS

Parliament Budget Session 2024 Live Updates: Catch all the latest developments here

4:54 PM

Par panel urges govt to work towards 'de-politicisation' of UNSC sanctions regime on listing of terrorists

A parliamentary standing committee on Monday called on the government to make persistent efforts to ensure "de-politicisation" of the UN Security Council's sanctions regime on the listing of terrorists and terror entities even as it noted that India remains a recruitment target for global terror groups such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS.

 

The report by the panel on external affairs came against the backdrop of China blocking the listing of a number of Pakistan-based terrorists by the United Nations Security Council's sanctions committee.

 

The committee noted that the problem of terrorism in India is largely sponsored from across the border as terrorist outfits are provided safe havens, material support, finance and other logistics by Pakistan's spy agency ISI to carry out terrorist activities.

 

The committee was of the firm view that terrorist attacks in the country can only be curbed by dismantling all terrorist networks and safe havens.

4:51 PM

Rajya Sabha witnesses uproar over skipping of question

Opposition members on Monday created a noisy scene in the Rajya Sabha when question number 18 related to the aviation sector was skipped inadvertently by Deputy Chairman Harivansh during the Question Hour.

 

Jaya Bachchan (SP), Deepender Singh Hooda (Congress) and other opposition members sought to know the reasons for skipping question number 18 and taking up question number 19 related to Polavaram irrigation project.

 

The deputy chairman said it happened inadvertently but the opposition members were not convinced.

 

Then Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar asked the members to calm down and told them the question number 18 will be taken up after question 19.

4:16 PM

Bill in Lok Sabha to check paper leaks, use of unfair means in govt recruitment exams

The Centre on Monday introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha to check malpractices in government recruitment exams such as paper leaks and fake websites, with strict penalties including a minimum jail term of three years and a fine up to Rs 1 crore.

 

At present, there is no specific substantive law to deal with unfair means adopted or offences committed by various entities involved in the conduct of public examinations by the central government and its agencies.

 

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024, introduced by Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh, mentions "leakage of question paper or answer key", "directly or indirectly assisting the candidate in any manner unauthorisedly in the public examination" and "tampering with the computer network or a computer resource or a computer system" as offences done by a person, group of persons or institutions.

3:48 PM

Parliament Budget Session LIVE: Delegation of 25 religious leaders reach Parliament to meet PM, Dhankar

Chief Imam of All India Imam Organization and other minority section religious leaders reached Parliament to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 5. They are also set to meet Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar and watch the proceedings of the Parliament.Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday issued a three-line whip to its Lok Sabha MPs asking them to be present in the House today as Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reply to the Motion of Thanks on Presidential address delivered on January 31, 2024, in the Parliament.Earlier on February 2, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with the top minister to discuss the government's strategy in the Parliament.

3:47 PM

PM should tell why he did not answer single question in Parliament: Derek O'Brien

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to reply to a debate on the President's address to Parliament, Trinamool Congress leader Derek O'Brien on Monday it would be another of his "Mann Ki Baat" and asked if he would explain why he had not answered a "single question" in both Houses. He said the prime minister, in his speeches in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, should share why opposition MPs are denied basic rights.

3:47 PM

Budget session: Govt committed to end Naxal menace in Chhattisgarh, says Governor

Chhattisgarh Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan on Monday said the state government is committed to crush the Left Wing Extremism and provide essential amenities, education, and healthcare in the affected areas.

 

The main focus of the governor's address delivered on the opening day of the first budget session of the newly-election Assembly was on strengthening the police force and improving their work-life balance.

 

He also listed various measures the government is planning for the welfare of various sections including farmers, and providing free rice until December 2028 under the PDS system, apart from promoting spiritual tourism.

 

"Police force will be provided with modern weapons, communication tools, and other necessary equipment to enhance their quality. In addition, a project with an estimated cost of around Rs 201 crore will be swiftly completed to develop police infrastructure in Maoist-affected areas," the governor said.

2:48 PM

Budget Session: Religious leaders representing various minority to watch proceedings of Parliament

Parliament Budget Session: Religious leaders representing various minority sections of the country meet Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar. The religious leaders will later meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will also watch the proceedings of Parliament. 'We wanted to give the message that humanity is the biggest religion,' says Chief Imam of All India Imam Organization, Dr Imam Umer Ahmed Ilyasi.

2:35 PM

Kerala budget presented in the State Assembly is a big farce: BJP leader V Muraleedharan

Speaking on the State Budget of Kerala, BJP leader V Muraleedharan today called it a 'big farce'. 'The State has no realistic plans for improving the capital expenditure and financial status of the state...But they have no hesitation in spending half a crore on an agitation in Delhi,' the minister said.

2:15 PM

Govt is creating a lot of financial troubles for the state, says Kerala FM Balagopal

Speaking to media after presenting the State Budget, Kerala Finance Minister KN Balagopal said that the most important points for the Budget are the development of the state, employment generation, investment and facing the challenge of recession. "The differential treatment by the Union government is creating a lot of financial troubles for the state. We have not succumbed to any pressure," Balagopal said.

1:31 PM

P.P Chaudhary presents report on ‘Countering Global Terrorism at Regional and International Levels’

Budget Session LIVE: Memeber of Parliament, P.P Chaudhary, today presented the 28th report of the Committee on External Affairs on the subject ‘Countering Global Terrorism at Regional and International Levels’.

12:26 PM

FM Sitharaman presents statement showing Supplementary Demands for Grants - Second Batch for 2023-24

During the ongoing Budget session, union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented a statement showing Supplementary Demands for Grants - Second Batch for 2023-24 in Lok Sabha. Sitharaman also presented a statement showing the Supplementary DFGs in respect of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir for the year 2023-24.

12:25 PM

Budget Session: Public Examinations Bill, 2024 introduced in Lok Sabha

The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Bill, 2024 has been introduced in Lok Sabha during the ongoing Budget Session of the Parliament. The bill seeks to deal with malpractices and irregularities in competitive examinations, with provisions for a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine up to Rs 1 crore

12:02 PM

Till now all the Budgets of Delhi & UP are centred around the top 10% population: Akhilesh Yadav

Speaking on the State Budget of Uttar Pradesh former CM and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav said that till now all the Budgets of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh are centred around the top 10 per cent population. 90 per cent of population which I have defined, what are they going to get? The SP leader questioned. Akhilesh further hoped that 'this budget will be about doubling farmers' income, employment to youth and the security of the people in the state'.

11:39 AM

Investment proposals worth more than Rs 40 trn received via Global Investor Summit 2023: UP FM Khanna

Presenting the state Budget in Vidhan Sabha, UP finance minister, Suresh Khanna said that as a result of significant improvement and expansion in infrastructure and collectivity, the state had received investment proposals worth more than Rs 40 lakh trillion through the Global Investor Summit held in 2023. 'The state used to be in the 14th place in the ranking of ease of doing business but today it is in the second position,' Khanna said.

11:09 AM

Budget Session: FM Sitharaman to lay statements of the estimated receipts and expenditure (2024-25) of J&K

In Lok Sabha today, the union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman will lay Statements of the estimated receipts and expenditure (2024-25) of the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (with Legislature) and Statement under Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act, 2006.