Parliament has been in session for 31 days in Budget Session 2026, nine Bills have been passed

The Budget Session of Parliament 2026, which began on January 28 and ended on April 18, saw both Houses in session for a total of 31 days. Originally scheduled to end on April 2, the session was extended to accommodate discussions and passage of key legislation, including Bills related to delimitation.

The Lok Sabha functioned for about 86% of its scheduled time, while the Rajya Sabha recorded a higher level of productivity at 92%, data shared by PRS Legislative Research showed. However, the troubles continued. In nine days, the Lok Sabha functioned for less than 20% of its scheduled time, showing uneven utilization despite the long sitting at the end of the session.

Limited budget review

The Union Budget is discussed in the Lok Sabha for 10 days. The budgets of five ministries—Railways, Agriculture, Home Affairs, External Affairs, and Power—were listed for deliberation, but only Agriculture and Railways were actually discussed. As a result, almost 77% of the budget was passed without detailed debate, with less than 25% of spending being scrutinized before being approved in 2026–27.

ALSO READ: Women’s reservations hit stalls as Constitution Amendment Bill fails to clear Lok Sabha test

Legislative activity

On the legislative front, a total of nine bills were passed by both Houses during the session. This includes key measures such as the Finance Bill, 2026, Appropriation Bills, and changes related to industrial relations, insolvency, and transgender rights.

In total, 12 Bills were introduced in the Lok Sabha and one in the Rajya Sabha, while one Bill was withdrawn. Legislative activity remains back-loaded, with most Bills passed in the last few weeks. Many cleared in a short time—some within days of introduction—underscoring concerns about limited scrutiny. Notably, only one Bill, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was referred to a parliamentary committee.

The session was extended for three days to take up three key bills, including the Constitution (One Hundred and Thirty-First Amendment) Bill, 2026, which aims at women’s reservation through delimitation. However, the Bill failed to get the required majority after more than 21 hours of discussion over two days. As a result, the relevant laws will no longer continue.

Business hours and Questions

Private Member Business remains underutilized. While the Rajya Sabha spent more than three hours discussing the business over two days, the Lok Sabha did not participate. Around 50 Private Members’ Bills were introduced in the Rajya Sabha, but no resolutions were discussed in either House.

The performance of Question Time also showed gaps. Out of 12 days, less than 15 minutes are spent on Question Time in the Lok Sabha, limiting opportunities for executive accountability.

ALSO READ: Women’s quota debate: Rahul’s ‘wife issue’ joke draws laughter in Lok Sabha

Other significant developments

The session also saw the passing of supplementary demands for grants, along with discussions on the functioning of key ministries. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed both Houses on the developing conflict in West Asia, adding a geopolitical dimension to the proceedings.

In general, while the Parliament operates for 31 days and eliminates significant financial and legislative business, the session shows a mixed picture – marked by extended sittings and output on the one hand, and limited debate, compressed lawmaking, and procedural gaps on the other.

ALSO READ: ‘Puri yojana bana rakhi hai…’: Priyanka Gandhi’s ‘Canakya’ takes on Amit Shah in friendly banter