Alina
Budget Session of parliament 2024
The ongoing Budget session of Parliament, initially set to conclude on February 9, has been extended by a day until February 10. This extension reportedly aims to accommodate the government’s plan to present a “white paper” addressing alleged economic mismanagement during the previous Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government’s tenure before 2014.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi announced the extension, citing the need to table the “white paper” without further elaboration on the agenda. Sources indicate that with pending agenda items such as the Finance Bill, budget discussion, and demand for grants, alongside the planned presentation of the white paper, the extension was deemed necessary.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the “white paper” in both Houses of Parliament, aiming to highlight the economic challenges left by the UPA government and the subsequent improvements made under the current administration led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In her interim budget speech, Sitharaman had previously indicated the government’s intention to table the “white paper,” emphasizing the need to reflect on the economic trajectory from the UPA era to the present for the purpose of drawing lessons from past mismanagement.
Despite the Parliament’s typical non-functioning on weekends, occasional sessions on Saturdays have occurred. The presentation of the “white paper” signifies a critical moment for assessing past economic challenges and charting a path forward towards sustainable growth and development.
