NEW DELHI: President Droupadi Murmu will address a joint session of Parliament today, January 31, marking the start of the Budget Session. Her speech is scheduled for 11 am. Following this, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Economic Survey 2024-25 in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

After the address, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Economic Survey in the Lok Sabha at noon. The survey will then be tabled in the Rajya Sabha at 2 pm. This report, prepared by the Department of Economic Affairs, provides a detailed analysis of India's economy in the 2024-25 fiscal year, along with projections for the upcoming year.

Some important bills will also be introduced during this session. Two key bills to watch out for are the Banking Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which aims to strengthen banking regulations, and the Railways (Amendment) Bill, 2024, focussed on improving the efficiency of Indian Railways.The Economic Survey will give an official review of the country's economic performance over the past year and highlight key challenges ahead. According to a UN report, India’s economy is expected to grow by 6.6% in 2025, driven by strong private consumption and investment.

The Budget Session will take place in two phases. The first phase runs from January 31 to February 13, with the Union Budget set to be presented on February 1. The 2nd phase of the Budget Session will start on 10th March and end on 4th April. Discussions on the President’s Address are planned for February 3, 4, and 6, with the response scheduled for February 6.

This will be Finance Minister Sitharaman’s eighth consecutive budget presentation. During the session, 16 Bills, including the Finance Bill 2025, amendments to the Waqf and Banking Regulations Act, and a proposal to merge the Indian Railways and Indian Railways Board Acts, are expected to be introduced. Other Bills under consideration include amendments to disaster management and oilfield regulations, as well as changes to laws on coastal and merchant shipping. Another proposal seeks to rename the Institute of Rural Management Anand as Tribhuvan Sahkari University and declare it an institution of national importance.

Ahead of the session, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju urged the opposition to cooperate and ensure smooth discussions. He noted that disruptions in previous sessions had affected Parliament’s image and appealed to MPs to engage in constructive debates.