Parliament has commenced discussions on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address following the unveiling of the Union Budget 2026–27. The debate, part of the ongoing Budget Session, began in the Lok Sabha on Monday, with Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal moving the motion on behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and MP Tejasvi Surya seconding it. In the Rajya Sabha, BJP MPs C Sadanandan Master and Medha Vishram Kulkarni will manage the proceedings.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to deliver his response on February 4, while Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who presented her ninth consecutive budget, will reply on February 11. The Lok Sabha has allocated 18 hours for the debate, as decided by the Business Advisory Committee, highlighting the significance of the discussion during this 65-day session, which began on January 28 and is set to conclude on April 2, with a recess scheduled from February 13 to March 9 for Standing Committees to examine Demands for Grants.
The 2026–27 Union Budget, hailed by the BJP as a strong framework for “Viksit Bharat 2047,” has become a focal point for parliamentary debate. Prime Minister Modi described it as a blueprint to accelerate reforms and infrastructure development while creating opportunities for youth employment.
However, Opposition parties have criticised the budget, calling it a “missed opportunity” that neglected key states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha and failed to adequately address pressing issues including inflation, unemployment, and economic inequality. Leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Akhilesh Yadav, and Abhishek Banerjee are expected to actively participate in Lok Sabha discussions, while Rajya Sabha debates may see interventions from Mallikarjun Kharge, Derek O’Brien, Ramgopal Yadav, Manoj K Jha, Tiruchi Siva, and John Brittas.
Among the contentious points likely to draw sharp exchanges are the proposed repeal of MGNREGA, UGC regulations, electoral roll revisions, and issues of vote integrity. Both Houses are expected to witness robust debate reflecting differing views on the budget’s impact on India’s economic and social policies.
