Union Budget 2021 to be Presented on February 1, Budget Session of Parliament from January 29

Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) recommends Part 1 of Budget session from Jan 29-Feb 15, Part 2 from Mar 8-Apr 8: Sources

Union Budget 2021: The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) has recommended the Budget session of Parliament from January 29, according to the reports. This year, the Budget session will be held in two parts: Part 1 from January 29-February 15 and Part 2 from March 8-April 8. President Kovind will address the joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament on January 29 and the Union Budget will be presented on February 1, the news agency PTI said quoting CCPA recommendation.

As the government looks to steer the pandemic-battered economy and push growth, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had earlier promised a “never before” like Union Budget. While investment in health, medical Research & Development (R&D) and developing greater skills to handle telemedicine is going to be critical, livelihood challenges would have to be seen in a newer canvas with newer perspective on vocational training and skill development.

The Budget for the next fiscal starting April 2021 that FM Nirmala Sitharaman will present a month from now will be the starting point for picking up the pieces after the economic destruction.

“Send me your inputs so that we can see a Budget which is a Budget like never before, in a way. 100 years of India wouldn’t have seen a Budget being made post-pandemic like this.

“And that is not going to be possible unless I get your inputs and wish list, clear observation of what has put you through the challenge… Without that, it is impossible for me to draft something which is going to be that Budget like never before, a Budget which is being made after a pandemic,” Sitharaman said while addressing the CII Partnership Summit 2020.

The minister said that to revive growth, support has to be extended to those areas which have been disrupted badly due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as to those areas which are now going to be the centres for newer demand and newer engines of growth.

“Considering our size, population and potential that India hold for good growth and building of economy, I wouldn’t hesitate here to say that we shall be the engine of global growth along with a few other countries. We will be a significant contributor to global economic revival,” she said.

Further, Sitharaman said that while providing more funding for infrastructure, it would be important to bring in private partnerships for not just providing buildings and hospitals, but also for providing the capacities to run these hospitals.

(With agency inputs)