Parliament Budget Session 2026 Highlights: Both Houses adjourned for the day

The updates to this Live Blog have ended. 

Lok Sabha adjourned for the day

The Chair adjourns Rajya Sabha for the day, to meet on March 18 at 11 a.m. 

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that the Union government has fully cleared all oil bonds issued during the tenure of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

Holding the previous government accountable, she alleged that the UPA had issued these oil bonds without properly reflecting them in official financial records. Sitharaman added that the current administration has been addressing and resolving the financial burden created during that period.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addresses the Rajya Sabha while presenting the Supplementary Demand for Grants, stating that the Indian economy has remained balanced despite multiple global and domestic challenges.

She noted that the economy has navigated disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and the ongoing crisis in West Asia. Despite these pressures, she asserted that India has sustained its economic stability.

The Rajya Sabha will bid farewell to its retiring members on March 18, with Question Hour and Zero Hour suspended to allow members to deliver speeches.

Rajya Sabha has taken up Appropriation Bill 2026 for discussion. The bill that has already been passed by Lok Sabha, being a Money Bill, the Upper House cannot reject this bill. Members may debate, suggest amendments, and then return it to Lok Sabha.

TMC MP Saket Gokhale questioned the Centre’s decision to raise LPG prices by Rs 60 ahead of four crucial elections, arguing that such a move contradicts the government’s claim of no supply shortage.

He said the government continues to deny any LPG shortage, often citing sources, but added that no administration would risk increasing prices at a politically sensitive time unless there were underlying supply concerns.

Rajya Sabha MP Rajiv Shukla criticised the Centre’s foreign policy and said the present situation has escalated, noting that while the government claimed relief through diplomatic efforts, only two ships have managed to pass, with 22 still stranded. Shukla questioned why such a situation has arisen after decades, pointing out that during the tenures of leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Indira Gandhi, and Chandra Shekhar, no such incidents of ships being stranded were reported.

He further alleged that India’s foreign policy stance has shifted, claiming the country is now being perceived as aligned with Israel, which he suggested may be contributing to the current challenges.

Rajiv Shukla took a jibe on earlier BJP protests on LPG price hike and recalled that even a Rs 10 hike in LPG cylinder prices once triggered protests led by Smriti Irani, questioning whether the government’s earlier slogan of “aapda mein avsar” still holds relevance today.

Welcoming the decision to revoke the suspension of eight Opposition MPs, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday told ANI, "This is a good thing... It should happen from both sides (maintaining the dignity of the House)."

As the suspension of eight MPs was revoked, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor told ANI, "It's a very good development that this sad spectacle of eight of our colleagues sitting on the steps every day suspended, unable to participate, has ended. Whatever mistakes of judgment or behaviour they may have made to keep them out of the House is something that hurts our democracy. I believe there have been some assurances of good behaviour on both sides, which I hope will also be upheld."

The suspension of eight Opposition MPs was revoked in Parliament today. 

These MPs were suspended earlier for the entire budget session for unparliamentary behaviour.

 The Parliamentary Standing Committee of the Ministry of Petroleum will hold a meeting on Tuesday at 3.30 pm. Discussions will focus on the impact of global developments on the petroleum sector, and officials from the Petroleum Ministry will provide a briefing.

The Parliamentary proceedings have begun in both Houses of the Indian Parliament. Papers are being laid in the Rajya Sabha.

The Lok Sabha will revoke the suspension of eight Congress MPs today. The MPs were earlier suspended for the entire budget session due to their unparliamentary behaviour.

A fiery showdown took place between the Leader of the Opposition, Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge and Union Minister JP Nadda yesterday over the alleged supply shortage of LPG cylinders. Kharge blamed the Centre for the crisis and said that the vendors, small restaurant vendors, and hostellers are the worst hit due to the crisis. 

Responding to this, Nadda accused the Congress of politicising the matter and inciting people at a time when the nation needs to stand united. He also pointed fingers at Congress leaders for hoarding LPG cylinders even when a shortage is feared.

The proceedings in both Houses of the Indian Parliament, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, will commence at 11 am today. The Lok Sabha is all set to take up discussions and vote on the demands for grants under the Ministry of Railways for 2026-27. In the Rajya Sabha, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is expected to move the Appropriation Bill, which authorises the government to withdraw funds from the Consolidated Fund of India to meet expenditure for the financial year.