Parliament Budget Session 2026 LIVE: West Asia Conflict Concerning, Says PM Modi In Lok Sabha; Both Houses Adjourned For The Day

Lok Sabha proceedings have been adjourned till 11 am on March 24.

The Lok Sabha proceedings have been extended for an hour till 7 pm. The House was scheduled to conduct its proceedings till 6 pm. However, in view of the number of speakers, the timing of the House was extended with the consent of the members.

Sachithanantham R, CPI(M) MP said the Modi government has a political partisan approach towards the Opposition-ruled states. He said these states are denied central funds despite natural calamities and funds are ensured only if a double-engine government is elected.

Rajya Sabha stands adjourned till 11 am on March 24.

BJP's Basavraj Bommai said the sweat of the labour and blood of the farmer combine together to develop the nation. PM Narendra Modi has shown how a calamity can be changed if a visionary PM takes charge, he said.

"Our PM has made a statement on West Asia crisis. The war has a huge repercussion on the lives of people across the world. During Iraq War, within three days, there were long queues in front of petrol pumps. But now, the situation has changed though there are some problems but that too will be resolved. This is because we have improved our capacity. If we look around other countries, what's happening? All economic activities have been stalled there. But not here. Thanks to the able leadership under PM Modi. The Finance Committee has estimated that we need Rs one lakh crore more to handle the situation. During Covid, we saw major challenges but everything was taken care of," Bommai said.

The BJP MP said when there is a crisis the ability of a government comes under test. "And the able leadership of PM Modi has always shown results," he added.

Prior to him, Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, Congress MP said the Centre treats Maharashtra as its ATM, where it contributes 36.1 percent but gets only 6.4 per cent in return. "When our government gives Rs 100, you give us only Rs 7 in return. Maharashtra is being seriously deprived by the Centre.

Supriya Sule, NCP (SP) MP asked the government whether the government is prepared to tackle the present crisis that the country is facing due to the ongoing West Asia turmoil, while reiterating her party's demand for an all-party meeting. "We are in an extra ordinary crisis situation but is the government prepared to handle it? We are in a growing economy, but our debt is also going up. States are in debt. We need to sit together and find out a solution to address this crisis."

The MP said that the stock market has fallen and the rupee has hit an alarming low against the dollar. The LPG shortage is also a major problem that has risen due to West Asia crisis, she added.

Dr Fauzia Khan, NCP-SP MP said in the Rajya Sabha that the geo political situation has significantly changed in the last four weeks. "So there is a need to review our defence equipment, ascertain how powerful our equipment and infrastructure are and also how prepared we are to face the current challenging situation," Khan said. She also stressed on the need for an intensive planning to address the current scenario.

"Where the President of an independent nation is kidnapped just like that, when nations can be attacked at will, our budgets must start speaking aloud," she added.

The Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which was introduced in the Lok Sabha, has been referred to the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) for further scrutiny. After introducing the Bill in the Lok Sabha today, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed to send the Bill to the JPC for detailed analysis. The House gave its nod to refer the bill to the Joint Committee. The bill aims to amend the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 and the Companies Act, 2013.

Congress MP Praniti Shinde on Monday called PM Modi's statement in Parliament on West Asia conflict as “very hollow and shallow”.

“We had given a notice for a discussion on the West Asia crisis...The ruling party is disconnected from the ground reality. He said there was not going to be a power shortage, but as we speak, there is a huge power shortage in Maharashtra, and farmers are crying for electricity...He did not talk about the preparedness of the govt...," Shinde said.

Lok Jan Shakti Party MP Arun Bharti has said that PM Modi's statement in Parliament on West Asia conflict has put a "full stop on all the speculations by giving a positive, detailed statement on India's preparations to deal with this issue". "He has clearly told all those war mongering or disturbing the Parliament that they should not always be looking for issues to raise in such a difficult time," Bharti said.

A delegation of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Infrastructure and Strategic Issues, Parliament of Sri Lanka, led by Mr. S.M. Marikkar, Chairman of the Committee, called on Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at Parliament House on Monday, a Lok Sabha Secretariat spokesperson said. According to the spokesperson, matters of mutual interest were discussed during the meeting.

‘The Finance Bill, 2026’ has been taken up for consideration and passing in Lok Sabha. The bill moved by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, will give effect to the financial proposals of the Central Government for the financial year 2026-2027.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who addressed the Lok Sabha on Monday, said that the conflict in West Asia was concerning and is having a serious impact on the people's lives. The PM also informed the House that since the war began, more than 3,75,000 Indians have returned safely to India.

Over the ongoing LPG crisis, PM Modi said that the government has focused on ensuring that common families face minimal inconvenience. “We import nearly 60 per cent of our LPG requirement, and amid supply uncertainties, domestic consumption has been prioritised,” he said. He further said that over the past 11 years, India has diversified its energy imports, from 27 countries earlier to 41 today.

“India has also strengthened crude oil storage for times of crisis. At present, the country has over 5.3 million metric tonnes of strategic petroleum reserves, and efforts are underway to expand this to more than 6.5 million metric tonnes…,” he added.

BJP MP Daggubati Purandeswari, who is the Chairperson of the Committee on the Empowerment of Women (2025–26), presented the Fourth Report on the subject ‘Cyber Crimes and Cyber Safety of Women’ pertaining to the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in Lok Sabha today.

The Rajya Sabha has been adjourned and will meet again at 2 PM.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman defended the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, amid Opposition objections. She said, "This law comes after two years of deliberation," adding that the Company Law Committee’s 2022 report was also put out for public consultation.

Regarding regulatory powers, she said the provisions for the National Financial Reporting Authority are in line with those of bodies such as SEBI, CCI, and IBBI.

Addressing CSR concerns, Sitharaman clarified, "Only the net profit criteria is being amended to favour small businesses that are striving to grow."

In the Lok Sabha, Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla sought an NIA probe into alleged wrongdoing by a Punjab minister who has resigned. He referred to claims that the minister was blamed in a suicide note by an employee.

In the Rajya Sabha, Congress MP Rajiv Shukla raised concerns over severe waterlogging in major cities. He said, "Big cities across the country face waterlogging. During rains, buses get stuck and electric current flows through water, causing hardship to common people."

Questioning the Smart Cities mission, he added, "Thousands of crores have been spent in the name of Smart Cities, yet the problem of waterlogging remains unresolved." Taking a swipe at the government, Shukla asked, “If the minister says state governments are responsible, then are even your 'double-engine' governments not functioning properly?"

He further raised a key question, asking, "How much money has actually been spent under the Smart Cities initiative?"

Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar replied to questions in the Rajya Sabha on electric buses for urban transport in Bihar. He highlighted plans to strengthen public transport in major cities by deploying electric buses.

Congress MP Manish Tewari opposed the introduction of the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha. He said, "The Bill suffers from excessive delegation of essential legislative functions," calling it a violation of constitutional principles. Tewari argued that key policy areas like company classification, CSR thresholds, audit obligations and penalty frameworks are being left to "subordinate legislation" without adequate guidance.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has introduced the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Lok Sabha. The Bill seeks to amend the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008 and the Companies Act, 2013.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is replying to queries in the Lok Sabha.

A delegation from Sri Lanka has arrived at Parliament in New Delhi during the ongoing Budget Session. The visit comes amid key proceedings in both Houses.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the Lok Sabha at 2 PM today. He is expected to speak on key aspects of the ongoing conflict in West Asia. At the Prime Minister's Office, the Cabinet Secretary gave a detailed presentation on the global situation and the mitigating measures taken so far and those being planned regarding the conflict by all concerned Ministries/Departments of the Government of India.

The expected impact and measures to address it across sectors such as agriculture, fertilisers, food security, petroleum, power, MSMEs, exporters, shipping, trade, finance, supply chains, and all affected sectors were discussed. The overall macro-economic scenario in the country and further measures to be taken were also discussed.

The ongoing conflict in West Asia will have a significant short-term, medium-term and long-term impact on the global economy, and its effects on India were assessed, along with immediate and long-term countermeasures that were discussed.

A detailed assessment of the availability of critical needs for the common man, including food, energy, and fuel security, was conducted.

The Question Hour has ended in the Lok Sabha.

Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the government is committed to making education affordable.

He said, "The net of the Education Ministry’s scheme is very wide," adding that there is no state or district-wise allocation for education loans for BPL students. Highlighting reforms, he said the PM Vijayalakshmi scheme has been revised to offer loans without a guarantor or collateral, with repayment terms up to 15 years.

He added that the scheme is flexible on family income, with interest rates starting from 3 per cent.

Trinamool Congress MPs staged a protest in the Rajya Sabha over transfer-related issues in West Bengal. Raising slogans against the Centre, the MPs strongly objected before walking out of the House.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has countered allegations of bias in fund allocation, saying Opposition-ruled states like Kerala are not utilising funds provided by the Central Government. She said, "Despite the allocation, the Kerala government has not drawn the amount."

Highlighting details, Sitharaman added, "An amount of Rs 311.95 crore was approved under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund… however, no funds have been used so far."

The allocation included Rs 72 crore specifically for landslide risk mitigation in Wayanad. She said the Centre has been releasing funds, but utilisation by states remains a key concern.

In the Rajya Sabha, Congress leader Digvijaya Singh raised concerns about data security amid India's proposed membership of Pax Silica. He flagged potential risks related to data protection and privacy, seeking clarity from the government.

BJP MP Hema Malini praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi after he became the longest-serving Head of Government in India. She said, "Our Prime Minister is remarkable and does exceptional work… The country has never had such a Prime Minister before. We are very proud of him."

Congress MP Manickam Tagore has alleged that the Centre is deliberately blocking funds to Opposition-ruled states. He claimed restrictive conditions are being imposed, effectively impacting states like Kerala and its capital, Thiruvananthapuram.

Rajya Sabha proceedings began with members laying committee reports on the Table of the House.

The House also paid tributes to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on Shaheedi Diwas.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla paid tributes to Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev on Shaheedi Diwas.

Following the tribute, proceedings in the Lok Sabha began with the Question Hour.

The Congress has sharpened its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the West Asia crisis. Senior leader Jairam Ramesh asked, "Why is the self-styled Vishwaguru not advancing the BRICS+ Summit to put together a diplomatic initiative?"

He alleged that Modi does not want to "antagonise President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu". Taking a dig at the Prime Minister's outreach, Ramesh said, "Phone calls have their limitations… Summits can be more productive and result in concrete steps."

He also claimed the government has failed to take a clear, collective stand, accusing it of "diminishing" India's BRICS presidency and of trying to "appease" global leaders.

The Congress has also criticised the Centre for not pushing for a ceasefire despite Modi's "claimed friendships" with global leaders.

The Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha have begun the proceedings.

Congress MP Sukhdeo Bhagat has questioned the Central Government's preparedness amid the ongoing West Asia conflict and called for an all-party meeting. He said, "While the government has made a good policy, how is the implementation going?"

Flagging concerns over oil dependence, Bhagat added India should have explored imports from "Africa, Russia or Latin America".

Calling the situation serious, he said, "This isn’t just a problem for one party, it is a problem for the whole country." He also alleged the government is "always in election mood" and urged it to "rise above politics" and hold an all-party discussion.

BJP MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy has reacted to the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to review the ongoing West Asia conflict. He said, "This conflict is not just about bombs and soldiers, it is also financial and economic warfare, especially around petroleum and petrodollars."

Reddy added that India now treats energy assets as strategic, saying details will not be publicly disclosed, much like defence assets.

Highlighting global trade tensions, he said, "When many countries surrendered to President Trump's tariff threats, it was Modi who stood firm… he is now an inspiration for world leaders."

On the conflict, he termed it "an irrational and meaningless war between two irrational leaders" and expressed hope that "the war should end soon." He added that while the situation poses challenges, "the Prime Minister has already devised plans and we must all cooperate."

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has slammed the Transgender Persons Amendment Bill, 2026, calling it "deeply regressive". He said the Bill was introduced "surreptitiously and without proper stakeholder consultation".

Tharoor warned the amendments reverse the Supreme Court's NALSA 2014 judgment, adding they remove the right to "self-perceived gender identity" and replace it with "medical board verification and bureaucratic certification".

He also raised privacy concerns, saying mandatory reporting of gender-affirming surgeries could create a State registry of "deeply personal medical decisions". Calling the move harmful, Tharoor said the provisions risk pushing the community "back into legal invisibility" and urged that the Bill be sent to a Standing Committee.

Samajwadi Party (SP) MP Ram Gopal Yadav has raised concerns over the global and domestic impact of the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict. He said the war is negatively affecting the global economy and warned that India is not immune to its fallout. Yadav claimed that several hotels are shutting down and highlighted a recent increase of Rs 22 in commercial gas prices. He also pointed to a potential fuel crisis, saying the expected shortage is causing significant losses to oil companies.

The SP leader further alleged that the government may delay a sharp hike in petrol and diesel prices by Rs 50-60 per litre until after the elections.