Budget Session ends with record sittings, key Bills passed amid high political heat

NEW DELHI: The second half of the Budget Session concluded on Friday with the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill — a politically charged move that capped one of the most productive and marathon sittings of Parliament in recent years.

The session saw both Houses clocking over 100% productivity, with the Rajya Sabha making history by sitting for over 17 hours without a break.

Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said, “History was created and old records broken in Rajya Sabha when it sat continuously from 11 am on Thursday to 4:02 am Friday,” to debate and pass the Waqf Bill and endorse President’s Rule in Manipur. The Lok Sabha debated the Waqf Bill for nearly 14 hours on April 2.

Productivity, legislative business at peak

• The Lok Sabha recorded 118% productivity and the Rajya Sabha 119%, as per government data.
• According to PRS Legislative Research, the Lok Sabha functioned at 111% of its scheduled time, and the Rajya Sabha exceeded its hours by 117%.
• In total, 16 bills were passed by both Houses during this session.

These included key financial and administrative legislation such as the Finance Bill, Appropriation Bill, Immigration and Foreigners Bill, and the Tribhuvan Sahkari University Bill.

The President’s Rule in Manipur was ratified following post-midnight sittings—42 minutes of debate in Lok Sabha and 1 hour 24 minutes in Rajya Sabha.

Political flashpoint: The Waqf (Amendment) Bill

The Waqf Bill, widely seen as the government’s most consequential legislative move in its third term, sparked intense debate. The NDA and INDIA bloc voted largely along party lines, with the Bill passing 288-232 in the Lok Sabha and 128-95 in the Rajya Sabha.

While opposition parties accused the government of intruding into Muslim religious affairs, Rijiju defended the legislation. “A lively discussion happened without disruption, and voting on opposition-sponsored amendments was allowed,” he said. He also suggested the bill could have gained wider support if parties hadn’t issued whips: “Many MPs expressed private support.”

The BJP’s numerical success was aided by conscience voting from BJD MPs, while AIADMK, in a break from its recent proximity to the BJP, sided with the opposition.

Congress took exception to Speaker Om Birla's criticism of Sonia Gandhi for claiming the bill was “bulldozed.” Rijiju countered that the bill was “extensively debated and voted upon,” dismissing her charge as “totally unfounded.”

Opposition resistance, BJP’s assertiveness

Opposition parties flagged economic distress, delimitation fears, and the three-language policy. The government, on the other hand, highlighted stability, economic growth, and political momentum after recent state election wins.

“The message is clear,” a senior BJP leader said. “Despite not having a full majority, our ideological commitment and governance resolve remain firm.”

Session highlights and gaps

While the government was quick to trumpet the extended hours and high output, the session also saw legislative scrutiny gaps.

• Only 28% of starred questions were answered orally.
• Eleven bills were passed in the first year of the 18th Lok Sabha — the lowest since 1999.
• Further, 90% of total budget expenditure was passed without discussion.
• The Lok Sabha debated the expenditure of only three ministries, PRS noted.

Record-breaking debates echo the past

Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar hailed the uninterrupted 17-hour sitting as the longest in the House’s history.

It joined a list of landmark sessions, including the 20.08-hour debate on “State of Our Democracy” in the Lok Sabha and the 1981 marathon on the Essential Services Maintenance Bill that lasted till 4:43 am.

As the session wrapped up, both sides claimed victories — the opposition in unity and challenge, the government in legislative delivery. But with key policies now facing potential court challenges, the battle over the Waqf Bill and others may shift from Parliament to the judiciary.