THE HEADLINES:
- Budget Session of Parliament concludes after Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die.
- Campaigning intensifies for assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
- National Commission for Women reviews progress of probe into Amravati sexual abuse case.
- US extends waiver from sanctions to buy Russian oil by one month.
- Nepal Supreme Court recognises Gagan Thapa faction as official Nepali Congress.
- In IPL Cricket, Royal Challengers Bengaluru to take on Delhi Capitals, while Sunrisers Hyderabad to face Chennai Super Kings today.
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Both the Houses of Parliament were today adjourned sine die. With this, the Budget Session of Parliament comes to an end, which commenced on 28th January this year.
In his valedictory address in Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla highlighted that the House registered 93 percent productivity during the Budget Session. He said a total of 31 sittings of the House took place. Mr Birla said during the session, twelve government bills were introduced and nine bills were passed. This includes the Finance Bill 2026, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2025, Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026 and Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026. A total of 326 Matters of Public Importance were raised by the Members during the Zero Hour.
In his valedictory address in the Rajya Sabha, Chairman C P Radhakrishanan said that overall, the House functioned for a total of over 157 hours, and the productivity of this Session stood at around 110 per cent.
The Rajya Sabha Chairman said that during the session Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a statement on the ongoing West Asia conflict and the challenges faced by India especially to meet its energy requirements. Mr Modi presented the evolving situation in a proper perspective and underlined the need for a collective resolve of the nation to face it. He said, the House also took note of the suo moto statements made by the Minister of Commerce and Industry on India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement and the Minister of External Affairs regarding the situation in West Asia. More from our correspondent.
“The Budget session of Parliament began on 28th January with the address of President Droupadi Murmu to the joint sitting of both the Houses. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget on 1st of February. During the session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi made a statement in both the Houses regarding the ongoing conflict in West Asia and the challenges emerging before India. A Short-Duration discussion was also held in the Lok Sabha on the efforts to free the country from Left-Wing Extremism. Earlier the Budget session was scheduled till 2nd of this month but it was extended for three days to pass an important legislation related to implement 33 per cent women reservation in Lok Sabha and legislative Assemblies. However, the Constitution 131st Amendment Bill, 2026 could not be passed in the Lower House as it failed to get the two-thirds majority. With Dipendra Kumar, Anand Kumar, Akashvani News Delhi.”
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On the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill failing to pass in the Lok Sabha, Union Minister for Women and Child Development Annpurna Devi said that the Congress has taken a stand that appears to be against the interests of women. Talking exclusively to Akashvani News, she said that women across the country were looking forward with great hope, but their aspirations have, for now, been held back until 2029.
BJP Lok Sabha member Bansuri Swaraj alleged that the Congress and other opposition parties betrayed the women of the country. Talking to Akashvani News at Parliament premises, she said opposition parties do not want that women should come and actually sit and take seats next to them in Parliament and in the Vidhan Sabha.
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh said that the Government brought a bill with the provision of 33 percent reservation for women in the Legislative Assembly and Lok Sabha to empower the women. Talking to reporters at he said the Congress party is happy after defeating it.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi claimed that the opposition thwarted the BJP-led government’s attempt to alter the federal structure and weaken the country’s democratic institutions. Addressing a press conference at the party headquarters in New Delhi, she said that true advocacy for women’s empowerment requires sustained commitment and cannot be achieved through political positioning alone.
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Inspite of heat and humid conditions, political campaigns intensified today in West Bengal for the Assembly election.
Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee joined a public meeting in Howrah in support of party candidates. TMC leader Abhishek Bandopadhyay joined a road show and he is expected to join other public meetings in Purba Bardhaman district.
BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari joined a public rally in Purba Medinipur. BJP leaders and Chief Ministers of Assam, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have also joined public meetings in different districts of West Bengal.
On the other hand, Congress leader and Telangana minister Mohammad Azharuddin joined rallies in Murshidabad district. Later in the day he will join rallies in Malda district.
Left and other political parties have also intensified campaigns through rallies and small public meetings in mohallas.
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In Tamil Nadu, poll campaigning will end in three days as the single phase voting is to be held on 23rd of this month. Today Prime Minister and senior BJP leader Narendra Modi will be electioneering at Coimbatore garnering votes for the NDA contestants. He will have a roadshow on arrival at the airport to CODISSIA, the venue of the event.
Union Minister and BJP leader Piyush Goyal is meeting with the Tea factory owners Association at Ooty Nilgiris.
DMK Chief and Chief Minister M.K.Stalin has been criticising both the BJP and the AIADMK over the delimitation bill. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi campaigning at Ponneri, recalled his bond with the State. He said that each State has unique character and it cannot be compromised. He said that democracy is precious and all efforts should be taken to safeguard it. He will also take part in campaigning at Sholingar and Thuraiyur in the State.
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palanisamy while campaigning at Erode said that Sengottaiyan worked like a spy for the DMK and wanted to split the AIADMK but was unsuccessful.
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In our series of constituency profile, today we take a look at Alangulam seat of Tenkasi district in Tamil Nadu. The district has the captivating Kutralam water falls and is a border district in the Western Ghats. More from our Correspondent:
“Tenkasi district has five Assembly constituencies namely Sankarankoil, Vasudevanallur, Kadayanallur, Tenkasi and Alangulam. The district has 1544 Polling stations. Sankaran kovil and Vasudevanallur constituencies are reserved constituencies. Two lawyers are locking horns in this constituency One is Manoj Pandian, the son of former Assembly Speaker late P.H. Pandian hails from a family of lawyers and he himself is a highly successful lawyer. Manoj Pandian was in AIADMK when contested the 2021 Assembly election and is seeking re-election as a DMK candidate. He is pitched against AIADMK’s K.R.P . Prabakaran another lawyer, a new entrant to electoral politics. Vipin Chakravarthy is a contestant of the TVK party. The constituency was formed in 1971. The total electorate is 2 lakh 53 thousand 438 voters. AIADMK was elected five times and DMK was elected thrice and Congress twice. Joy, AKASHVANI NEWS FROM Coimbatore”
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The Chairperson of the National Commission for Women, Vijaya Rahatkar, presided over a high-level review meeting to assess the progress of the Paratwada case in Amravati, Maharashtra. The case involves the alleged creation and circulation of obscene videos and images of young girls. In a statement the NCW said that the matter has raised serious concerns regarding the misuse of technology for exploitation, the scale of content circulation, and the safety and dignity of the victims. The Commission said that it has instructed the concerned authorities to expedite the forensic analysis and submit progress reports to the Commission every five days. It added that during the briefing, SP Rural Vishal Anand informed that eight accused persons, including the primary accused, have been arrested so far.
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The United States has extended by a month, a waiver from sanctions to allow countries to buy petroleum products from Russia, days after it ruled out renewal of the special measure. According to an order issued by the US Department of the Treasury yesterday, the waiver now permits transactions involving Russian oil shipments that were already at sea on or before April 17 through May 16.
Earlier, the US had granted an exemption from sanctions to India for buying Russian oil for a month beginning March 5.
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Nepal’s Supreme Court has recognised the faction led by Gagan Thapa as the official Nepali Congress, dismissing a challenge from the group led by former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. A division bench of Justices Saranga Subedi and Nripa Dhwoj Niroula yesterday, upheld the Election Commission’s decision to validate the party’s Central Working Committee formed under Thapa’s leadership following a special general convention held in Kathmandu in January. Thapa was elected as the Nepali Congress president in a special general convention from January 11 to 14 in Kathmandu, which was challenged by the Deuba-led faction.
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In IPL Cricket, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will take on Delhi Capitals at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru today. The match will start at 3:30 PM.
In another match, Sunrisers Hyderabad will face Chennai Super Kings at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. The match will start at 7:30 in the evening.
Lat night, skipper Shubman Gill’s majestic half-century propelled the Gujarat Titans to a five-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Chasing the target of 181 runs, Gujarat Titans achieved the target in 19.4 overs.
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THE HEADLINES ONCE AGAIN :
- Budget Session of Parliament concludes after Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha adjourned sine die.
- Campaigning intensifies for assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
- National Commission for Women reviews progress of probe into Amravati sexual abuse case.
- US extends waiver from sanctions to buy Russian oil by one month.
- Nepal Supreme Court recognises Gagan Thapa faction as official Nepali Congress.
- In IPL Cricket, Royal Challengers Bengaluru to take on Delhi Capitals, while Sunrisers Hyderabad to face Chennai Super Kings today.
