Today in Politics: All Eyes on Modi Govt 3.0’s First Budget Against a Changed Political Backdrop

The political landscape is buzzing with anticipation as Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presents the Union Budget for 2024–25. This marks the first budget under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term, a term characterized by a notable shift in political dynamics.

The Political Shift

Unlike Modi’s previous terms, the BJP no longer holds a majority on its own and relies heavily on its NDA allies, particularly the TDP led by N Chandrababu Naidu and the JD(U) led by Nitish Kumar. This dependency adds an intriguing layer to this year’s budget, as both allies have outlined specific demands, including special category status (SCS) and special projects for their states, Andhra Pradesh and Bihar.

Anticipated Debates and Strategies

The three-week-long Budget session, which kicked off on Monday, promises to be contentious. This was evident during the customary all-party meeting on Sunday, where coalition politics took center stage. Allies and opposition parties alike have presented various demands, urging the government to adopt a new approach in Parliament.

Key discussions will focus on ministries of railways, education, health, MSME, and food processing in the Lok Sabha, with a 20-hour debate on the budget expected. The Rajya Sabha will have an eight-hour discussion on the Appropriation and Finance Bills and four-hour debates on four yet-to-be-identified ministries.

Opposition’s Strategy

The INDIA bloc, comprising Congress and other opposition parties, held a strategy meeting to outline their approach for the session. They plan to raise significant issues, including the NEET-UG paper leak case, the Agniveer scheme, and violence in Manipur. Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, emphasized the importance of addressing issues connected with the people during their discussions.

Telangana Assembly’s Budget Session

Meanwhile, the Telangana Assembly’s Budget session begins on Tuesday, with key issues such as crop loan waivers, unemployment, and political defections expected to dominate discussions. The Congress government, led by A Revanth Reddy, is set to present its first full budget after assuming power last December.

Supreme Court Hearing on NEET

In a related development, the Supreme Court has ordered IIT Delhi to investigate a contentious question from the NEET-UG 2024 exam, following allegations of a paper leak. The court is set to continue hearing multiple petitions on Tuesday, focusing on the extent of the alleged malpractice and its impact on the examination’s integrity.

Stay tuned as we follow these critical political developments and their implications for the country’s future.