NewsGate Press Network  

The Budget Session of 2025 of the Parliament ended on a high note on Friday the 4th of April 2025.

The productivity level of Rajya Sabha stood at 119 percent while that of Lok Sabha almost matched it with an impressive figure of 118 percent.

On April 3, 2025, the Rajya Sabha etched its name in the annals of legislative history with an unprecedented sitting from 11:00 a.m. until 4:02 a.m. the following day—the longest in its history.

During this marathon sitting, the Upper House passed the transformative Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025, bringing transparency and accountability to Waqf property management while modernizing legacy systems and upholding principles of equity and justice.

While for Lok Sabha it was the Fourth Session of the Eighteenth Lok Sabha, which commenced on 31 January, 2025, and for Rajya Sabha, it was their 267th session.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla informed the House that 26 sittings were held during the Session which lasted for around 160 hours 48 minutes.

The President of India had addressed MPs of both the Houses of Parliament on 31 January, 2025 and the discussion on Vote of Thanks on the President’s Address lasted for 17 hours 23 minutes. 173 Members participated in the discussion, informed Shri Birla.

The Finance Minister presented Union Budget 2025-2026 on the floor of the House on 1 February, 2025. General Discussion on the Union Budget 2025-26 lasted for 16 hours 13 minutes.

The Speaker informed that 169 Members participated in the discussion. Finance Minister replied to the discussion on 11 February, 2025.

Demands for Grants of selected Ministries/ Departments were discussed in the House from 17 to 21 March, 2025 and subsequently the Demands for Grants were passed by the House. Appropriation Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on 21 March, 2025 and the Finance Bill was passed on 25 March, 2025.

Om Birla added that there were 10 Government Bills introduced during the Budget Session while 16 other bills passed.

Some of the important bills which were passed are as follows:

(i)            The Finance Bill, 2025;

(ii)           The Appropriation Bill, 2025;

(iii)          The “Tribhuvan” Sahkari University Bill, 2025;

(iv)         The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025; and

(v)          The Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025

During the Session, 134 starred questions were answered orally. A total of 691 Matters of Public Importance were raised by the Members during the Zero Hour, out of which a record number of 202 Matters of Public Importance were raised during Zero Hour on 3 April, 2025, the Speaker Birla informed the House. A total of 566 matters were taken up under Rule 377 during the Session.