Context:
The Budget Session of Parliament 2025 will begin on January 28 and continue till April 2, with the Union Budget likely to be presented on February 1. The session will be held in two phases, as approved by President Droupadi Murmu.
Key Highlights:
Session Schedule
- First Phase: January 28 – February 13
- Recess: Mid-February to early March
- Second Phase: March 9 – April 2
- Union Budget Presentation: February 1
Constitutional Procedure
- Session begins with the President’s Address under Article 87.
- The Address outlines:
- Government’s policy priorities
- Legislative agenda
- Achievements and future roadmap
Parliamentary Oversight
- During recess, Department-related Standing Committees (DRSCs):
- Examine Demands for Grants
- Scrutinize budgetary allocations
- Submit reports to Parliament
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Article 85: President summons and prorogues Parliament.
- Article 87: Special address by the President at the commencement of the first session each year.
- Article 112: Annual Financial Statement (Union Budget).
- Types of Budgets:
- Revenue Budget
- Capital Budget
- Finance Bill: Contains taxation proposals.
- Appropriation Bill: Authorizes withdrawal from the Consolidated Fund of India.
- Department-related Standing Committees:
- Established in 1993
- Currently 24 committees (16 Lok Sabha, 8 Rajya Sabha)
Relevant Mains Points:
- Importance of the Budget Session
- Core mechanism of financial accountability of the Executive to Legislature.
- Enables discussion on:
- Fiscal deficit
- Public expenditure
- Welfare schemes
- Tax reforms
- Parliamentary Financial Control
- Tools include:
- Cut Motions
- Discussions on Demands for Grants
- Public Accounts Committee (PAC) oversight
- Reflects the principle: “No taxation without representation.”
- Role of Standing Committees
- Strengthens legislative scrutiny.
- Allows subject-specific technical evaluation.
- Enhances bipartisan policy review.
- Challenges
- Reduced sitting days.
- Frequent disruptions affecting deliberations.
- Limited discussion time on Demands for Grants (often guillotined).
Way Forward
- Increase effective sitting days.
- Strengthen committee system.
- Encourage structured debate and data-driven discussions.
- Improve transparency in fiscal reporting.
UPSC Relevance:
- GS 2: Parliament – Budgetary procedure, Legislative oversight
- Prelims: Articles 85, 87, 112; Budget-related terminology