The acrimonious second half of the Budget session ended on Thursday after the passage of key legislations, including the Central Armed Police Forces (General Administration) Bill, the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, a bill seeking to recognise Amaravati as the sole and new capital of Andhra Pradesh. Both Houses will meet again on April 16 for a short session to push amendments for the implementation of the women reservation law. (Sansad TV/ANI Video Grab)
Both Houses will meet again on April 16 for a short session to push amendments for the implementation of the women reservation law.
During the Budget session, political narrative shifted from domestic issues and the upcoming assembly elections to the ongoing war in West Asia, which disrupted global fuel lifelines, including India’s LPG supplies. Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured the country that the government was relentlessly trying to minimise the impact of the West Asia war even as he warned that difficult global conditions might persist for a long time and called upon people to be prepared and united, just as they had during the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a statement in the Lok Sabha – his first after the war broke out on February 28 – Modi called the attacks on commercial ships and obstruction in the Strait of Hormuz unacceptable, addressed concerns related to the impact on fuel, fertilisers, and national security, and said a unanimous voice should go out to the world from India’s Parliament on this crisis.
The session also witnessed the Opposition moving a no-confidence motion against Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla — the first such move in 39 years — but it was defeated. The Opposition has also moved the first ever no-confidence notice against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar, which remains pending, even as a BJP lawmaker tried to move a substantive motion against Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi.
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Both Houses cleared six bills, including legislations to make Amaravati the sole capital of Andhra Pradesh, to fix the quota for IPS officers in higher CAPF posts, and a controversial bill that significantly narrows the definition of transgender persons.
The Lok Sabha approved the Finance Bill 2026 before the Rajya Sabha returned it to the Lower House. The demands for grants or ministry-wise budgets were also cleared even as the government rejected the Opposition’s demand to debate the working of the external affairs ministry.
According to PRS — a non-profit that provides research support to MPs— the productivity of the budget session so far stood at 79% and 100% in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, respectively.
On Thursday, the Lok Sabha passed the CAPF bill by a voice vote, even as opposition members demanded sending it to a parliamentary panel for comprehensive discussion and deliberation. The bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
The bill provides that to appoint officers from IPS in CAPFs, 50% of the posts will be filled by deputation in the rank of inspector general and a minimum of 67% of the posts by deputation in the rank of additional director general.
Responding to the debate, minister of state for home affairs Nityanand Rai said the opposition is confused about the measure and is, in turn, confusing people. He added that mutiplicity of rules for different central forces was a hurdle in their smooth functioning and the new law will take care of such issues. “Opposition tried to create confusion. Historically, Sardar Patel had dreamt of a strong system in India, and that has been developed over the years. CAPF’s role has been expanded. There were ambiguities. It was thought that for clarity, an umbrella structure should be formed. Earlier, there were different laws which led to ambiguities. The law also ensures financial benefits.”
In a video statement, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi slammed the CAPF bill, and asserted that his party will repeal such a “discriminatory law” when it comes to power.
He recalled that he recently met assistant commandant Ajay Malik, who he claimed did not get any promotion despite 15 years in service. “Despite over 15 years of loyal service — no promotion, not even the right to lead his own force. Because all top positions are reserved for IPS officers. This is not just one officer’s pain — it is institutional injustice happening to millions of CAPF personnel,” he said in the video he shared on X.
The session also saw the government withholding the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday after protests by the opposition and a controversy in poll-bound Kerala.