GUWAHATI: The Interim Union Budget is set to begin today on February 1. The Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, will present the budget as the Lok Sabha elections are scheduled for this year as she carries the budget documents in electronic form.
This is Sitharaman's sixth budget as Finance Minister and the last one for the second term of the Modi government. The interim budget will handle financial needs until a new government is formed after the elections. A full budget will be presented by the incoming government.
The Budget Session of Parliament started recently, and it will have eight sittings over 10 days.
Before the Lok Sabha elections in April-May, discussions will focus on the interim Union budget for 2024-25 and the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address. Other important matters might also be addressed during this session.
As per reports, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi mentioned that the session will include discussions on Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2023-24 for the Union Government. They will also talk about the Interim Budget of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for 2024-25, along with Supplementary Demands for Grants for the financial year 2023-24.