The Budget session of Parliament is set to begin on Monday and will run for three weeks until August 12.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Economic Survey on Monday, followed by the Union Budget on Tuesday. This will be the first Budget in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s third term.

The session is expected to be contentious, with a resurgent Opposition poised to challenge the Modi government on issues such as the NEET paper leaks, railway safety, unemployment, and rising prices.

This crucial session is taking place against a backdrop of a changed political landscape following a fractured verdict in the recent Lok Sabha polls, which did not give the BJP a majority. This has forced the BJP to rely on its NDA allies, especially N Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP and Nitish Kumar’s JD(U).

During an all-party meeting held on Sunday, Opposition leaders united in raising concerns over the ADG, Meerut Zone’s directive requiring eateries and carts on the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names and religions of their owners and employees. They called for the Centre’s intervention, labeling the directive as “divisive.”

While the JD(U) and the YSRCP, typically friendly towards the BJP, renewed their demands for Special Category Status (SCS) for Bihar and Andhra Pradesh respectively, the BJD also reminded the BJP of its pledge for SCS for Odisha ahead of the 2014 elections. Chirag Paswan, Union minister and LJP(RV) president, joined the JD(U) in demanding SCS for Bihar.

The Opposition, having missed the chance to address issues like the alleged NEET exam irregularities and the Manipur crisis in the first session post-Lok Sabha polls, urged the government on Sunday to respect the public mandate.

The government is expected to introduce at least six Bills during the session.

SC to Hear Crucial Pleas

On Monday, the Supreme Court is set to hear petitions on various issues, including the NEET-UG exam and the Kanwar Yatra. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra will hear over 40 pleas, including those filed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) seeking to transfer cases related to the NEET-UG row from various high courts to the apex court.

The top court will also hear a plea against the Uttar Pradesh government’s order requiring eateries and carts along the Kanwar Yatra route to display the names of their owners, an order criticized by Opposition parties and some NDA members for allegedly targeting Muslim traders.

Additionally, the Supreme Court will hear a public interest litigation filed by NGOs Common Cause and the Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL), seeking a court-monitored investigation into the electoral bonds scheme, alleging an “apparent quid pro quo” between political parties, corporations, and investigative agencies.

OBC Outfits’ March in Maharashtra

Several OBC groups will start a ‘Jan Aakrosh Yatra’ from Jalna in Maharashtra on Monday to advocate for the protection of their quota rights. The march, organized by the OBC Protection Committee, will tour various areas in Marathwada, Vidarbha, and Ahmednagar. Key participants include OBC activist Laxman Hake, who opposes granting OBC status to Marathas as demanded by Manoj Jarange, who is on a hunger strike seeking Kunbi certificates for Marathas to avail OBC quota benefits.

Revanth Reddy in Delhi

Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy left for Delhi on Sunday, where he is expected to meet some Union ministers and senior AICC leaders. Reddy, who recently launched the Congress government’s crop loan waiver scheme, said he would invite Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for a public meeting in Telangana to express gratitude for the loan waiver.