On 17 March 2026, the Indian Parliament passed the Appropriation Bill 2026, concluding major budgetary processes for the financial year.
Legislative Actions
- Appropriation Bill 2026 Passed: The Rajya Sabha returned the bill to the Lok Sabha after a discussion, officially passing it. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that the government’s budgeting is “transparent and realistic” and noted that the central government’s capital outlay increased to ₹12.20 lakh crores for 2026–27.
- Withdrawal of Jan Vishwas Bill: Union Minister Piyush Goyal moved to withdraw ‘The Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Bill, 2025’ in the Lok Sabha to incorporate further recommendations for decriminalising minor offences.
- Demands for Grants: The Lok Sabha discussed and voted on demands for grants for the Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Key Highlights & Statements
- Suspension Revoked: The Lok Sabha revoked the suspension of eight Opposition MPs (seven from Congress and one from CPI-M) following a motion moved by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.
- Repayment of Oil Bonds: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that by March 2026, the government had repaid the entire ₹2.92 lakh crore burden of oil bonds issued by the previous UPA government.
- PMLA Convictions: The government informed the Rajya Sabha that between April 2021 and February 2026, 56 out of 59 PMLA cases resulted in convictions.
- Job Reservations: Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar stated in the Lok Sabha that government job reservations for persons with disabilities increased from 3% to 4%.
- Railway Subsidy: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted a ₹60,000 crore subsidy to boost affordable travel through Amrit Bharat trains.
Political Developments
- Opposition Protests: Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan claimed the Opposition’s protest against renaming MGNREGA to the VB-G RAM G Act was a failure.
- Call for Apology: Over 200 signatories sought an apology from Rahul Gandhi regarding his conduct within the Parliament complex
Edited by News Mania Desk
