India's Parliament, the supreme legislative body of the Republic of India, is a bicameral structure comprising two houses: the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. The President of India acts as the head of the legislature, with powers to summon and prorogue either house or dissolve the Lok Sabha.
The Lok Sabha, or lower house, has 543 members who are directly elected by citizens over the age of 18. Each member represents a parliamentary constituency across the country. The Lok Sabha has a term of five years and its primary responsibilities include passing laws and ensuring that the executive government performs its duties satisfactorily.
The Rajya Sabha, or upper house, is a permanent body not subject to dissolution. It can have a maximum of 250 members, with one-third retiring every second year. Its members are indirectly elected by members of state legislative bodies. Twelve members are nominated by the president for their expertise in fields like literature, art, science, and social service.
The Parliament of India was established on January 26, 1950, following the enforcement of the Constitution of India. The first general elections were held in 1951-52, leading to the formation of the first elected Parliament in April 1952.
A new Parliament building, located adjacent to the original British-era structure, was inaugurated on May 28, 2023.
Eight Congress MPs have been suspended from the Lok Sabha for hurling papers at the Chair.
Lok Sabha proceedings resumed today a stormy note, with tempers running high over Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s bid to cite excerpts from former Army chief General MM Naravane’s unpublished memoir. Amid the din, Speaker Krishna Prasad Tenneti pulled up a member for using the word “yaar” during the heated exchange, reminding MPs to maintain parliamentary decorum. He stressed that such expressions were unacceptable when addressing the Chair and urged members to confine their remarks to the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was greeted with applause and accolades at the NDA parliamentary meeting on Tuesday following a landmark trade agreement between India and the US. The meeting, held at the Parliament complex, concluded with alliance MPs congratulating the Prime Minister for securing the deal, which promises immediate tariff relief for Indian exports. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, speaking after the session, welcomed newly elected BJP president Nitin Nabin and noted the visible enthusiasm among MPs over the recent trade developments. Chants of “Jai Modi,” “Vande Mataram,” and “Bharat Mata ki Jai” echoed through the hall as party members praised Modi for the landmark agreement with US President Donald Trump.
A massive showdown erupted in parliament on Monday after Rahul Gandhi tried to quote from former army chief Naravane's unpublished memoir claiming the government showed no political will against Chinese incursions in 2020.
A showdown between BJP and Congress escalated over Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s attempt to quote from an unpublished memoir by former Army Chief General M.M. Naravane in Lok Sabha.
A massive political war erupted in Lok Sabha as Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi sought to quote an unpublished "memoir" of former Army chief M M Naravane on the 2020 India-China conflict in the Lok Sabha on Monday.
In this edition of 'To The Point', the big talking point is the political confrontation in Lok Sabha following Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s references to an unpublished memoir by former Army Chief General MM Naravane.
In this edition of Super 6, the focus is on the intense political showdown in Parliament as Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi cites an unpublished memoir by former Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane.
Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi slammed PM Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for not letting him speak on ex-Army chief MM Naravane's memoir in Lok Sabha.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju criticised Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for allegedly violating parliamentary rules and defying the Speaker's authority during the discussion on the President's address in Lok Sabha on Monday.
During the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address, Gandhi raised concerns regarding India-China relations and the military situation at the Kailash Ridge in eastern Ladakh.
On this Special Report, the focus is on the presentation of the Union Budget 2026 as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman heads to Parliament. The transcript captures the live movement of the Finance Minister's convoy from Rashtrapati Bhavan to the new Parliament building after seeking formal permission from the President of India. A key moment highlighted is when the reporter notes, 'This is the convoy of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman which is now heading towards the Parliament' for the crucial Cabinet meeting. The programme discusses the evolution of budget presentations from 1985 to the current televised era, noting how finance ministers have become more conscious of a national audience. Analysts on the show deliberate on the shift from tax-heavy budgets to those focused on tariffs and infrastructure. The discussion further explores the government's significant investments in roads and power since 2020, questioning the remaining fiscal headroom for continued infrastructural spending as the nation awaits the official tabling of the budget at 11 am.
On this Special Report, Karishma Sudhani provides live updates as Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrives at Kartavya Bhavan ahead of the Union Budget for FY 2026-27. The report highlights Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a 'reform express' that is 'human centric' and focused on technology. Sudhani notes that the budget making team features key women leaders, including Secretary of Economic Affairs Anuradha Thakur, marking a significant shift in the ministry's leadership. The discussion underscores expectations for major customs reforms and the continued digital transformation of the budget process through the tablet-based 'Bahi Khata'. The Finance Minister is expected to present the annual financial statement at 11:00 AM, with India Inc eyeing a 7% growth rate. The programme explores the transition of the Finance Ministry to its new headquarters and the strategic focus on consolidating the government's reform agenda through both direct and indirect tax measures.
On this Special Report, Maria Shakil and Piyush Mishra analyze the expectations surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 13th budget. Maria Shakil highlights the consistent rise in social sector spending, noting that 'the projection is 73K, it is likely to go up again' for the Awaas Yojana residential scheme. Piyush Mishra, reporting from Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman's residence, details potential reforms including a 50% hike in Kisan Samman Nidhi from ₹6,000 to ₹9,000 and a reduction in the Ayushman Bharat age limit from 70 to 60 years. The discussion covers the transition from the traditional briefcase to the digital budget and the political significance of these schemes ahead of assembly elections in five states. The bulletin outlines the customary pre-budget schedule, including the Finance Minister's meeting with President Droupadi Murmu before tabling the budget in Parliament at 11 AM, with a focus on providing relief to the common man and salaried individuals through increased standard deductions.
This news report covers the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) legislative meeting in Mumbai, where Sunetra Pawar was unanimously elected as the CLP leader. Following the proposal by Dilip Walse Patil and support from top leaders like Chhagan Bhujbal, she is set to become Maharashtra's first woman Deputy Chief Minister. The reporter notes, 'Sunetra Pawar is set to take oath as the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister' at 5 PM today. The transition follows her resignation as a Member of Parliament. While the Ajit Pawar faction solidifies its leadership, questions regarding a potential merger between the two NCP factions remain unanswered. The swearing-in ceremony at Lok Bhavan is expected to be a concise event attended by major political figures. Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar and Supriya Sule are reportedly holding a separate meeting in Pune. The broadcast highlights Sunetra Pawar's new role in leading the faction forward, marking a significant shift in the state's political landscape.
On this Special Report, host Siddharth Zarabi leads a high-level panel discussion following the tabling of the Economic Survey in Parliament. Joined by top economists including Sajid Chinoy and Sonal Verma, Zarabi explores the 'Reform Express' roadmap mentioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The discussion highlights critical macroeconomic indicators, with Zarabi noting that the survey provides 'clues into the mind of what finance ministry mandarins are thinking' ahead of Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s upcoming budget presentation. The panel analyzes India's 7% GDP growth projection, the challenges of a hostile global trade environment, and the strategic debate over rupee depreciation as a shock absorber. Experts also discuss the impact of Chinese excess capacity on domestic manufacturing and the necessity of rationalizing customs duties to boost export competitiveness. The programme concludes with expectations for fiscal prudence and a strong narrative on AI-driven digital infrastructure to sustain India's current economic momentum.
In this special report, former Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha joins Maria Shakil to decode the health of the Indian economy ahead of Budget 2026. Sinha hails the recently signed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement as the 'mother of all deals', predicting it will significantly boost employment in sectors like textiles. He provides a detailed breakdown of India's GDP, noting that the private sector accounts for two-thirds of economic activity. Sinha outlines the vision for 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047, explaining how the income pyramid is shifting as more households move from the 'Aam Janata' category into the middle and global classes. Addressing concerns over jobless growth, he cites stable unemployment rates and rising EPFO subscriptions as evidence of formalisation. Sinha also discusses the impact of AI and the necessity of increasing productivity to compete with global economies like China and the United States.
On this Special Report, the focus is on the political developments in Kerala as Congress MP Shashi Tharoor signals a peace pact with the party high command. Following a meeting with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Tharoor reaffirmed his commitment to the party, stating, 'These are my two leaders, the Congress president on the one hand and the leader of the opposition in my own House of Parliament, the Lok Sabha'. The meeting aimed to resolve reported unease and coordination issues ahead of the crucial Kerala Assembly elections scheduled for April and May. Tharoor is set to play a pivotal role in the UDF campaign, with plans to visit all 140 constituencies in the state. The leadership has assured Tharoor of due recognition and involvement in key decision-making processes, ending a period of friction and setting the stage for a united front in the upcoming polls.
On this Special Report, host Siddharth Zarabi leads a panel of top economists to decode the Economic Survey 2026-27 tabled in Parliament. Joining the discussion are Sajid Chinoy of JP Morgan, Sonal Verma of Nomura, Anubhuti Sahay of Standard Chartered, and Tanvi Gupta Jain of UBS Securities. The panel analyzes the 'reform, perform and transform' mantra mentioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Siddharth Zarabi notes that the survey 'contains a lot of nuggets of information and data that gives us some clues into the mind of what finance ministry mandarins are thinking' regarding the upcoming budget. The experts discuss India's 7% GDP growth projection, the necessity of rupee depreciation as a shock absorber against global volatility, and the impact of Chinese excess capacity on domestic manufacturing. The conversation also covers fiscal consolidation targets, the surge in gold imports, and the urgent need for rationalising customs duties and enhancing the speed of doing business to maintain India's economic momentum.
In this special report, Chief Economic Advisor Dr. V. Ananta Nageshwaran discusses the Economic Survey 2025-2026 following its tabling in Parliament. Speaking with Siddharth Zarrabi, Neha Batam, and Maria Shakeel, Dr. Nageshwaran highlights the 'reform yatra' and the synergy between Union and state governments in deregulation. He notes, 'We are prepared and that's it' regarding global geopolitical turbulence, emphasizing that preparation is an ongoing process. The discussion covers the impact of trade deals with the European Union, the potential for job creation in labour-intensive sectors, and the role of Artificial Intelligence in India's growth. Dr. Nageshwaran also addresses the Indian rupee's competitiveness, suggesting that a weaker currency currently benefits manufacturing exports. He provides insights into the upcoming overhaul of macro statistics and the reliability of India's statistical systems amidst international scrutiny. The programme explores the priorities of the Indian economy as it moves towards the goal of Viksit Bharat.
