Parliament Winter And Budget Sessions Likely To Be Merged Due To Covid-19 Pandemic: Reports

Parliament's Winter Session usually starts around the end of November and continues till mid-December. The budget session starts during the last week of January and the Union Budget is tabled on February 1.

Parliamentarians in Rajya Sabha during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament. (Image: PTI)

With the continuous spike in the number of Coronavirus cases in the national capital and further rise predicted due to cold in the coming months, there is a concern over the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament. According to the reports, the government is now contemplating to merge the Parliament winter session along with the budget session however the final decision is yet to be taken. Parliament's Winter Session usually starts around the end of November and continues till mid-December. The budget session starts during the last week of January and the Union Budget is tabled on February 1. However the sources as quoted by PTI, said that the government has suggested on holding a single unified session in the place of two sessions in a short span of period owing to the Coronavirus pandemic. The Monsoon Session that was held from September 14 in the midst of the pandemic, was cut short by eight days and concluded on September 23. Rajya Sabha as well as Lok Sabha was adjourned sine die. Instead of the 18 sittings, the session wrapped up post 10 sitting that were held between September 14 and 23. However, it is worth mentioning that the Rajya Sabha showed a 100 per cent productivity during the monsoon session as 25 bills were cleared and six others were introduced during one of the shortest Monsoon Session. Ahead of the sessions, the centre issues several protocols and safety measures such as shorter hours, doing away with a set format of proceedings, and many other such improvisations. Despite the strict measures, 17 Lok Sabha MPs tested positive for Covid 19 on he first day of the Monsoon Session.