NEW DELHI: Both Houses of Parliament will carry on discussions on the Union Budget 2025-26 on Thursday. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had presented the budget on Saturday.

In the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will respond to the debate on President Droupadi Murmu’s address. The Lok Sabha session will start with Question Hour, followed by the presentation of parliamentary papers by various ministries.

A new Income Tax Bill, set to replace the Income Tax Act of 1961, is expected to be introduced today.

On Tuesday, PM Modi had responded to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address, emphasizing the BJP-led government’s efforts to improve the lives of the poor.

Earlier, on January 31, Finance Minister Sitharaman presented the Economic Survey for 2024-25, projecting a 6.4 percent GDP growth for FY2025.

Key Highlights of the Budget Session
The Budget session began on January 31 with President Murmu’s speech. The first phase will continue until February 13. After a break, Parliament will reconvene from March 10 to April 4.

Thursday marks the fifth day of the session, with Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha proceedings starting at 11 AM. The Congress party has submitted an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha, calling for a discussion on the deportation of over 100 Indian nationals by the United States.

The motion urges Parliament to address the issue urgently to protect Indian citizens from further humiliation abroad. Congress leaders Gaurav Gogoi and Manickam Tagore have pushed for a debate, calling the deportation process “distressing and inhumane.”

RBI May Cut Interest Rates After Long Wait

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is expected to reduce interest rates in its upcoming monetary policy review on Friday. This will be the first review under Governor Sanjay Malhotra. The move is aimed at boosting economic growth, which is predicted to slow to its lowest level in four years.

Meanwhile, the new Income Tax Bill is expected to be a key focus of today’s discussions.