Srinagar- A turbulent Budget Session of Parliament concluded on Saturday, marked by repeated disruptions, sharp confrontations between the government and the opposition, and the unprecedented defeat of a key Constitution Amendment Bill seeking to introduce 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures.
The Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which aimed to implement women’s reservation by 2029 and proposed increasing the strength of the Lok Sabha to 816 seats, failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha. While 298 members voted in favour, 230 opposed the Bill, falling short of the 352 votes needed for passage. The setback marked the first time a constitutional amendment has been defeated under the government led by Narendra Modi.
Following the Bill’s defeat, both Houses of Parliament were adjourned sine die within minutes on the final day, with no business transacted during the special sitting convened to consider the legislation.
The session, which began on January 28 and was later extended by three days beyond its scheduled April 2 conclusion, witnessed a mix of legislative activity and persistent political deadlock. Despite the acrimony, Parliament passed the Union Budget for 2026–27, along with demands for grants and supplementary grants for various ministries.
Several key legislations were also cleared during the session, including the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2026, the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, 2026, and the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which designates Amaravati as the state’s capital.
However, other proposed laws faced hurdles. The Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, was not taken up amid strong opposition resistance, while the Corporate Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was referred to a parliamentary committee for further scrutiny.
The session was repeatedly disrupted by protests and walkouts, reflecting deepening tensions between the treasury benches and the opposition. Early flashpoints included an uproar after Rahul Gandhi was prevented from citing excerpts from an unpublished book, leading to the suspension of eight opposition MPs, a decision later revoked.
In another rare development, Prime Minister Modi was unable to reply to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address due to continued disruptions. The opposition also moved a notice seeking the removal of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, which was defeated after a debate. A separate notice to remove Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar was rejected by the presiding authorities.
Despite the disruptions, productivity remained high. The Lok Sabha recorded 93 per cent productivity, while the Rajya Sabha functioned at around 110 per cent efficiency. Over the course of the session, 31 sittings were held, spanning more than 151 hours of work.
Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan described the Budget Session as the most consequential in shaping the country’s growth trajectory, highlighting the extensive discussions and legislative output. The Upper House also re-elected Harivansh as Deputy Chairman during the special sitting.
The session concluded with the rendition of all six stanzas of ‘Vande Mataram’ in both Houses, marking another first.
Overall, the Budget Session combined significant legislative business with intense political confrontation, but will be chiefly remembered for the defeat of the women’s reservation bill and the continuing standoff between the government and the opposition.
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