Parliament Budget Session LIVE: Both Houses adjourned for the day

FM Niramala Sitharaman introduces two Bills on Wednesday. 

Ms. Sitharaman introduces a Bill to authorise payment and appropriation ofcertain sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India for the services of the financial year 2026-27. 

The Minister also moves that the Bill to authorise payment and appropriation of certain sums from and out of the Consolidated Fund of India for the services of the financial year 2026-27, be taken into consideration. 

Union Agriculture Minister on Wednesday tells Lok Sabha that the Union government is working hard to make the process of farm loans easy and accessible to all farmers. 

“The Government is making efforts continuously to increase the income of farmers,” he adds. 

The government is also making sure only top quality seeds enter the market, the Minister says. “The government would not let inferior seeds enter the system, and even if they did, they would be identified. We will curb the sale of substandard seeds,” he adds.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan says the Central government has made enormous allocation to agriculture in the Union Budget. 

“The allocation is unprecedented,” he says. 

The agriculture sector has got a 2.6% boost in the Union Budget, translating to an additional ₹3,000 crore in comparison to the previous year’s allocation, days after the Economic Survey pointed to a decrease in agricultural growth in the country. 

Continuing the discussion and voting on the demand for grants under the control of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Maharashtra RLP MP Hanuman Beniwal urged the government to waive off the entire loan amount of farmers to ease their pressure. 

Mr. Beniwal also asked the government to investigate the massive ‘scam’ that’s happening under PM Fasal Bima Yojana. 

MPs in Rajya Sabha continue to give their speeches to bid farewell to retiring MPs and laud their tenure in the House. 

59 MPs from 20 States are set to retire from the Upper House from April to July as their term ends. 

Rajya Sabha elections were held on March 16 to fill 37 seats across 10 States. Out of the 37 seats, 26 candidates were elected unopposed.

The Lok Sabha extended the tenure of the parliamentary committee examining Bills that seek to introduce simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies till the Monsoon session.

P.P. Chaudhary, chairmain of the Joint Committee of Parliament examining the Bills seeking to introduce simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, moved a motion seeking extension of the tenure of the panel.

He sought an extension of the tenure of the Joint Committee on the Constitution (129th Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024, up to the first day of the last week of the 2026 monsoon session.

The Lok Sabha adopted the motion by a voice vote.

-PTI

Punjab Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi, during the discussion and voting on demand for grants under the control of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, urged the government to resolve issues under the several schemes for farmers. Pointing to the issues under Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, he insisted the government should also offer compensation in case of vehicle loss too. 

Farmers have given India food security, but the farmer himself hasn’t been able to attain income security, Mr. Channi said.

Highlighting that the budget for agriculture has been decreasing year-on-year, Mr. Channi alleged that it feels like the government has a problem with farmers. 

“You introduced 3 anti-farmer Farm Laws which were withdrawn after agitation. Now you have gone and signed an agreement with the U.S. under which you will crush the farmers. At least you should have told us about the agreement. An agreement that has been signed by India’s government, we get its information from America,” Mr. Channi added. 

You have sold the country, Mr. Channi alleged. 

As Rajya Sabha MPs continued their address to the House bidding their farewells to the 59 MPs who are set to retire from April to June, they urged the government to increase the working hours of the Parliament to increase its effectiveness and focus on the issues of the common man. The MPs also submitted demands for a stronger attendance in the Parliament. 

Addressing the House earlier, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge urged the Prime Minister to let the Parliament run for longer, and to work for more sessions. 

Similarly, Andhra Pradesh YSRCP MP Ayodhya Rami Reddy Alla submitted to the Chair that Parliament must hold frequent sessions to discuss issues to increase its effectiveness. He also urged the Chair to look into the low attendance issues in the House. 

Lok Sabha MPs continued their discussion on the demands for grants under the control of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. 

Haryana Congress MP Jai Parkash questioned the Ministry on what it has done for the farmers of Haryana, alleging that the BJP is anti-farmer. 

Rajasthan BJP MP Dushyant Singh praised Prime Minister Narendra for his efforts to uplift the farmers of the country. He hailed the allocation of ₹63,500 crore to PM-KISAN scheme, out of which approximately ₹6,000 crore is deposited directly into the bank accounts of farmers. 

“Vichaar-dhara bhi kuch hoti hai (Ideology is also something),” Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said, on Assam MP Pradyut Bordoloi’s resignation from the Congress Party. 

Mr. Bordoloi joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia in New Delhi on Wednesday (March 18, 2026).

Mr. Bordoloi clarified that the resignation stemmed from “multiple issues” as opposed to a singular ticket allocation for the Assam Assembly elections.

Members in the Rajya Sabha continued their address to the Upper House of the Parliament on Wednesday (March 18, 2026). 

“...It is very uncomfortable the way he conducts himself, he should see the conduct and behaviour of his sister, which is very good...Rahul Gandhi himself is a shame...,” BJP MP Kangana Ranaut said over the letter seeking Rahul Gandhi’s apology. 

More than 200 retired armed forces officers, former civil servants, including diplomats, and lawyers on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) demanded that the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, apologise to the nation, alleging that his conduct inside the Parliament complex was in “violation of decorum and institutional dignity”.

“... Because of the attitude of the Congress party, he had to resign. There is no internal democracy; their working style is not aligned with democratic principles, nor do they show faith in the Constitution. Therefore, any citizen who believes in democracy cannot stand with Congress, nor work for it...,” BJP Leader and RS MP Deepak Prakash says on the resignation of Congress Leader Pradyut Bordoloi. 

Lok Sabha continues discussion and voting on the Demands for Grants under the control of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare for 2026-27.

The Lower House of the Parliament on Wednesday (March 18, 2026), took up reports on Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare. 

The Lok Sabha then took up a motion regarding the report of the Joint Committee on the Constitution (One hundred and twenty-ninth Amendment) Bill 2024 and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024. 

The House also took up a discussion and voting on the demands for grants under the control of Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare 2026-27. 

Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh Narayan Singh, after LoP Mallikarjun Kharge, addressed the Upper House and bid farewell to the 59 retiring MPs. Mr. Harivansh is himself among the 59 MPs who are retiring and will not be returning to the House. 

Photo Credit: Sansad TV

Leader of Opposition and Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday (March 18, 2026) bid farewell to retiring MPs in the Rajya Sabha. Mr. Kharge made his remarks in the House after the Prime Minister’s address. 

“Those in politics, public life, neither get tired nor retire for the passion to serve the country...:, Mr. Kharge said. 

The LoP mentioned that he has known H.D. Deve Gowda for more than 54 years, but didn’t know ‘what happened to him later’. 

“Wo mohabbat humare saath kiye, shadi Modi sahab ke sath (He loved us, but married Modi)”, Mr. Kharge said.

Photo Credit: Sansad TV

Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Rajya Sabha bid farewell to retiring MPs, addressing the House on the ‘valuable contributions’ of respected members like H.D. Deve Gowda, Mallikarjun Kharge, and Sharad Pawar. 

“These are senior leaders who have spent more than half of their lives in parliamentary functioning. Even after such long experience, new members of Parliament should learn from them, how to come to the House with dedication, contribute as much as possible, and remain fully committed to the responsibilities given by society,” Mr. Modi said. 

The Prime Minister added that he ‘wholeheartedly appreciates their contributions’ and highlighted that their long tenures were extremely significant. 

Mr. Modi also bid farewell to Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman Harivansh Singh, and Ramdas Athawale. 

“Deputy chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh is leaving the House, he has often handled crisis. Ramdas Athawale is an evergreen personality, he may be leaving but no one will miss him because he will keep everyone busy outside with his humour,” the PM said. 

Bidding farewell to the retiring MPs in the Rajya Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that everyone in the House has made significant contributions to the many issues discussed. 

“There are also some bitter and sweet experiences along the way. However, when such an occasion arises, it is natural that we rise above party lines and a common sentiment emerges among all of us — that our colleagues are now moving forward for some other important responsibilities,” Mr. Modi said. 

Noting that many members are retiring from the Upper House to return, and many are ‘leaving with experience they have gained’, the Prime Minister said, “To those who are leaving and may not return to this House, I would like to say that in politics there is no full stop.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi bid farewell to the Members of Parliaments who are set to retire on completion of their terms. 59 MPs from 20 States are set to retire from the Upper House. 

Elections for the Rajya Sabha were held on March 16. 

The Rajya Sabha began its proceedings for the day on Wednesday (March 18, 2026) with the laying of committee reports. 

The Upper House then bid farewell to MPs who will be retiring in the months from April to July on completion of their terms. There are a total of 59 MPs from 20 States who will retire from the Rajya Sabha. 

The Lok Sabha began its proceedings for the day on Wednesday (March 18, 2026) with a 2-minute silence to pay a tribute to Dr. Kavuru Sambasiva Rao, who died on March 11. 

The Lok Sabha on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) revoked with immediate effect the suspension of eight opposition members who were barred from the House on February 3 for “unruly” behaviour, with Speaker Om Birla stressing that there should be no display of placards, posters, photos or AI-generated images inside the House or in the Parliament complex.

Congress member K. Suresh requested the House to consider the revocation of the eight opposition members, saying whatever had happened in the House was regrettable, and that his party was ready to cooperate in the smooth functioning of the House.

Following the submissions by several opposition members, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said there was a need to draw a “Laxman Rekha” for the smooth functioning of the House, which both treasury and opposition benches agreed to.

Speaker Birla said there is a need to ensure that no placards, posters, photos or AI-generated images are displayed in the House or inside the Parliament complex.

Mr. Birla said that everyone is of the opinion that proceedings in Parliament of the world’s largest democracy should be smooth and everyone should cooperate.

Mr. Rijiju then moved a motion to remove the suspension of seven Congress MPs and one CPI-M member, which was adopted by a voice vote.

-PTI

Allocations to rural development projects increased under the Narendra Modi government when compared with the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said while replying to a debate in the Rajya Sabha on the working of his Ministry on Tuesday (March 17, 2026). While the Congress accused others of forgetting Mahatma Gandhi, under its regime, most projects were named after members of the Nehru family, Mr. Chouhan said.

The Congress lacked policy clarity, leadership, and intent, Mr. Chouhan said. The protests against the change in the name of MGNREGA (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) to VB-G RAM G [Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin)] Act did not succeed as the country was not standing with them, he said.

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Member of Lok Sabha and the Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas, Janardan Singh Sigriwal, presented the seventh report on ‘Demands for Grants (2026-27)’ for the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in the Lok Sabha.

The report emphasises the need for prudent budgeting, asking the Ministry to adopt sound forecasting models to minimise variations in fund allocations and reduce last-minute surrenders or adjustments. It further recommends enhanced budgetary support for capital expenditure, noting that such spending creates long-lived public assets and drives economic growth and employment. The Committee suggests using government support for infrastructure-led investment as a primary driver for long-term expansion.

-ANI

More than 200 retired armed forces officers, former civil servants, including diplomats, and lawyers on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) demanded that the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, apologise to the nation, alleging that his conduct inside the Parliament complex was in “violation of decorum and institutional dignity”.

The signatories, in an open letter, said Mr. Gandhi’s actions on March 12 were in “deliberate defiance of the Chair”, and showed disregard for parliamentary authority. They said the Opposition led by Mr. Gandhi disregarded the Speaker’s explicit instructions.

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The Centre is committed to expanding affordable rail travel and improving access for lower-income passengers through subsidies and capacity additions, including the introduction of Amrit Bharat trains, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said in Parliament on Tuesday (March 17, 2026).

Replying to a discussion on the Demands for Grants for Railway Ministry in Budget 2026, which was passed in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Mr. Vaishnaw said, “General and sleeper class coaches account for nearly 70% of Indian Railways’ total capacity. In 2024-2025, about 1,250 additional general coaches were added, and 860 have been added in the current fiscal.”

The Minister also underlined the Centre’s push for affordable long-distance travel through Amrit Bharat trains, which, he said, help cover a journey of around 1,000 km at a fare of roughly ₹450. 

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