Union Cabinet to meet today ahead of Budget session

Today, at 10:30 am, the Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to convene, just ahead of the presentation of Union Budget 2024 on 23 July. The Budget Session of Parliament will commence on 22 July and may conclude on 12 August, depending on government business exigencies.

In preparation for the Budget Session, Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju will meet with floor leaders of political parties from both houses of Parliament, as announced by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. Additionally, PM Modi is expected to visit the BJP headquarters in Delhi tomorrow at 6 pm to address and meet party workers in anticipation of the upcoming sessions, bypolls, and assembly elections.

The traditional Halwa ceremony, marking the final stages of budget preparation for the full Budget of 2024-25, took place at North Block on Tuesday. This ceremony, attended by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of State Pankaj Chaudhary, and other officials, involves the preparation of a large batch of the Indian sweet dish in a symbolic 'kadhai'.

The interim budget, presented on February 1, addressed financial requirements until the formation of a new government post Lok Sabha elections, paving the way for the upcoming comprehensive budget presentation in July.

During the inaugural session of the 18th Lok Sabha, discussions on various contentious issues such as NEET, the situation in Manipur, and inflation led to debates, disruptions, and subsequent adjournments in Parliament.