The government has designated 18 hours for a discussion in the Lok Sabha regarding the motion of thanks for the President's address during the joint session of Parliament in the upcoming budget session. This discussion is set to take place on February 2, 3, and 4. The decision was made during a meeting of the Lok Sabha's Business Advisory Committee on Thursday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to respond to the motion of thanks on February 4 during the budget session.

According to sources, a general discussion on the central budget for 2026-27 will occur in the Lok Sabha on February 5, 9, 10, and 11, with a total of 18 hours allocated for this purpose. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is likely to provide a response on February 11. During a recent all-party meeting, opposition parties urged discussions on various issues, including the restoration of MGNREGA, ongoing voter list SIR, and the UGC controversy.

Meanwhile, the Lok Sabha was adjourned on Thursday afternoon and will reconvene on February 1 at 11:00 AM. Finance Minister Sitharaman presented India's Economic Survey for the fiscal year 2025-26 in Parliament today, setting the stage for the central budget to be unveiled on Sunday, February 1. This year, the budget presentation coincides with the weekend. Sitharaman is set to present her ninth consecutive central budget, marking a significant milestone in India's parliamentary and economic history.

Presenting the Economic Survey before the budget follows a long-standing tradition of outlining the economic situation before detailing future fiscal plans. The Economic Survey is regarded as the official annual "report card" on India's economy. It offers a comprehensive, data-driven review of the economy's performance over the past year and provides a detailed framework for future policy directions. As a key annual report from the government, it reviews significant economic developments from the previous 12 months.