Parliament Budget Session 2022 Highlights: Lok Sabha adjourned after passing Jammu-Kashmir Appropriation Bill 2022

The Northeast is no longer lagging behind the rest of the country in terms of growth and infrastructure development as the Narendra Modi-led government has paid special attention to develop this region in the last seven years, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Monday.

Participating in a discussion on the working of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region in Rajya Sabha, the minister for shipping, ports, and waterways said the Modi government has worked tirelessly to develop the region while the earlier governments only paid lip service.

"In the last seven years, peace has returned to the region, which has led to the increase in economic activity. Modi and (Amit) Shah have taken strong steps to bring peace in the region. Due to that, investors are now looking to invest in the region," Sonowal said.

He said the entire northeastern states have witnessed change in the last few years as the central government has focussed on increasing transport avenues, enhancing communication and connectivity, and creating infrastructure. (PTI)

A day after the Congress Working Committee put its weight behind Sonia Gandhi and asked her to initiate necessary changes in the party, senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday said all the party MPs and leaders in states are responsible for the poll debacle and not the Gandhi family.

Kharge, who is the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, said the BJP/RSS and the prime minister attack the Gandhis all the time and if all the leaders do not stand with them at this time, it would be "betrayal".

"Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have been fighting for a cause and have taken on the BJP/RSS head on. They have often been attacked by the BJP/RSS and the prime minister and in such times, if we don't stand with them, we would be betraying ourselves," he told PTI. (PTI)

The Congress on Monday alleged that the Inspector-in-charge (IC) of Jhalda and local TMC leaders had been mounting "pressure" on its councillor Tapan Kandu to switch sides and join the state's ruling camp, and the leader was murdered as he did not give in to their demand.

Congress leader in Lok Sabha and state president of the party, Adhir Chowdhury, who paid a visit to Kandu's family in Purulia's Jhalda on Monday afternoon, alleged that Kandu was murdered by the goons of the TMC, and the local police.

"The Jhalda municipality saw a hung house after polls and Kandu and his wife were asking for help from Independent candidates. Was that a mistake? His wife has said that the TMC, through the police, was putting pressure on them to join the TMC. The local IC had been threatening them to joining the TMC for several months. And when he (IC) could not manage that, Kandu was murdered," Chowdhury said after meeting the deceased's wife. (PTI)

Lok Sabha on Monday was adjourned till tomorrow 11 am, after passing the Jammu-Kashmir Appropriation Bill 2022. 

A parliamentary panel has recommended the culture ministry to ensure 100 per cent staffing at all times, terming vacant posts at the ministry a “very pathetic state of affairs”. The committee observed that such was the case at all organisations of the ministry.

In the Archaeology Cadre of ASI, against a total sanctioned strength of 420, there were 166 vacant positions, and in the Conservation Cadre, against a total sanctioned strength of 918, 452 positions were found vacant, it noted.

It said it was "shocked to find that in some cadres vacancies are more than 50 per cent of the sanctioned strength." The committee recommended the ministry to fill all vacant posts that are supposed to be filled by promotions within a span of six months, and those that are supposed to be filled through direct recruitment, within a year.

The committee, in its report ‘Demand for Drafts (2022-23)' said that the allocation of Rs 2,687.99 crore in budget estimates (BE) 2021-22 was decreased in the revised estimates (RE) 2021-22 to Rs 2,665 crore. (PTI)

The BJP on Monday demanded that the recently-released movie 'The Kashmir Files' should be exempted from entertainment tax, while BSP pitched for its ban, arguing that such films create feelings of hatred among various communities.

Participating in the debate on Jammu and Kashmir Budget in Lok Sabha, BJP member Jamyang Tsering Namgyal said the film is exposing the bitter truth and hence it should be exempted from entertainment tax. Janata Dal (United) member Sunil Kumar Pintu too demanded that the movie should be made tax-free, saying the movie reveals the plight of Kashmiri Pandits.

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) member Danish Ali, however, said that whether it is "Kashmir Files or Gujarat Files", films which create feelings of hatred should be banned. (PTI)

Asserting that the law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir was concerning, Congress leader Manish Tewari on Monday said the government has not been able to archive the objectives it set out while abrogating Article 370 there, and asked when its full statehood will be restored.

Initiating the discussion in Lok Sabha on the supplementary demands for grants for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for 2021-22, Tewari said Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated "extremely nobel sentiments" in her budget speech for Jammu and Kashmir but "ground realities are different".

He said that when the government abrogated Article 370 and divided Jammu and Kashmir into Union territories Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, it put forward two arguments that with this, the Kashmir's merging with India will be strengthened as the state will be emotionally integrated, and the development there would be speeded up.

The government had abrogated Jammu and Kashmir's special status under Article 370 and bifurcated it into union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. "Today 33 months have passed. Has the government been successful in achieving those objectives? I would like to state that the answer is no," he said, arguing that the situation is more sensitive than it was in 2019. (PTI)

After discussing the working of Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region the Upper House of the Parliament was adjourned till tomorrow 11 am. Meanwhile, discussion on Supplementary Demands for Grants for Jammu and Kashmir for 2021-22 continues in the Lower House of the Parliament in the ongoing Budget session.

The education department has been allocated the highest Rs 11,832.77 crore followed by Rs 10,831.18 crore for the home department, which controls police, in the Rs 1.42 lakh crore budget for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for 2022-23 presented by Union finance minister in Lok Sabha on Monday.

Sitharaman also presented the supplementary demands for the year 2021-22 totalling Rs 18,860.32 crore for the UT. According to the Jammu and Kashmir Appropriation Bill 2022, Rs 797.34 crore has been allocated for the general administration department and Rs 10,831.18 crore for the home department.

The higher allocation for the home department, under which the Jammu and Kashmir Police comes, indicated the government's priority in maintaining peace in the Union Territory, which has been facing over three decades of Pakistan-sponsored terrorism. (PTI)

Forty-two defence personnel were killed in accidents involving aircraft, including helicopters, of the three services in the last five years, according to data provided by the defence ministry in Rajya Sabha on Monday.

According to the details shared in Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for Defence Ajay Bhatt, the total number of air accidents in the last five years was 45 with the IAF reporting a maximum of 29. He said the number of accidents involving aircraft, including helicopters, in the Indian Army in the last five years was 12, while it was four in the Indian Navy.

Providing the details of defence personnel killed in such accidents, Bhat said the IAF lost 34 people while it was seven in the Indian Army and one in the Indian Navy. Bhatt was asked about details of aircraft accidents in the Indian armed forces in the last five years. (PTI)

Amid skyrocketing oil prices, Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday said the government will take all required measures in the coming months to ensure that consumers get relief from high fuel prices.

Replying during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha, the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas also shared that a proposal to bring petroleum products under the Goods and Services Tax was taken up by the GST Council but it "did not find favour".

India relies on overseas purchases to meet about 85 per cent of its oil requirement, making it one of the most vulnerable in Asia to higher oil prices. Puri was responding to senior Congress leader Anand Sharma, who said it was agreed upon by the government and the opposition that petroleum products will be eventually brought under GST at the time of its introduction, and sought to know the progress been made in this regard.

"States which are acquiring high revenue from the sale of petrol and petroleum products and if I may also add liquor are normally reluctant to reduce their revenue from these two sources," said the Petroleum Minister. However, Puri said "the government will in the coming months also take whatever measures we have to, to make sure that our consumer gets relief to the extent we can". (PTI)

DMK member T R Baalu on Monday slammed the government for lowering the interest rate on Employees' Provident Fund deposits to 8.1 per cent. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Baalu also demanded that the Centre restore the interest rate on EPF deposits to 8.5 per cent and fix the minimum pension under the employee pension scheme at Rs 3,000 per month.

Baalu, who represents Sriperumbudur in Lok Sabha, said the seventh pay commission had recommended Rs 18,000 as minimum wage and Rs 9,000 as monthly pension. However, he said that the Centre only pays Rs 1,000 as monthly pension under the Employees' Pension Scheme (EPS).

Trinamool member Saugata Ray also objected to the lowering of interest rate on EPF deposits and voiced concern about the privatisation policy of the government. “The government should not take the victories in the assembly elections to ride roughshod on the workers. Already it has shown its teeth by reducing the interest rate on EPF deposits,” Ray said. (PTI)

The government is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy to eliminate child labour and has taken comprehensive measures which include legislative action, rehabilitation strategy and providing right to free education, Union Labour Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Monday.

Yadav also said that the government is not maintaining centrally data of school-going children, who are involved as labourers with their families.

"The government is pursuing a multi-pronged strategy to eliminate child labour and has taken comprehensive measures which include legislative measures, rehabilitation strategy, providing right of free education and general socio-economic development so as to eliminate incidence of child labour," he said in the Lok Sabha during the Question Hour. (PTI)

Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday said ultraviolet C-band radiation equipment has been installed in chambers of the House to contain the spread of coronavirus.

"I am happy to inform you all that the secretariat has recently installed another safety measure in the chambers of this august House to contain the spread of coronavirus. Equipment has been installed to contain the spread of virus through ultraviolet C-band radiation which is very effective in killing the virus," he said. The technology has been developed by CSIR-CSIO.

Speaking on the first day of the second part of the Budget Session, Naidu noted that with the waning of the third wave, both the Houses of parliament have returned to sitting from 11 am as against working in two shifts during the first part of the session. (PTI)

Bank frauds over the last five years have come down drastically to Rs 648 crore in first nine months of 2021-22, on the back of structural and procedural reforms to check such incidents, Parliament was informed on Monday.

In 2016-17, bank frauds stood at Rs 61,229 crore, which declined to Rs 11,583 crore in 2020-21 and then to Rs 648 crore during April-December 2021-22, Minister of State for Finance Bhagwat Karad said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. Improved detection and reporting along with comprehensive steps resulted in sharp decline of such frauds, he said.

The Reserve Bank of India had issued master directions on frauds in 2016, he said, adding the government has instituted wide-ranging structural and procedural reforms to check frauds in banks. "Such systematic and comprehensive checking of frauds, including of the legacy stock of non-performing assets (NPAs), led to unearthing of frauds perpetuated over the years," Karad said. (PTI)

Several Rajya Sabha MPs on Monday raised issues related to Indian students evacuated from war-hit Ukraine, and asked the government to take steps to help them complete their studies.

On the first day of the second part of Budget Session, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu said a large number of Indian students in Ukraine needed to be evacuated in the context of the situation there.

"This was a very challenging task. The Government of India rose to the occasion by evacuating Indian students as well as some students of other nationalities. These efforts are praiseworthy," he said. Naidu also informed members that the minister concerned will make a statement on the issue, and members can seek clarification.

Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar (TDP) noted that many students from India had gone for medical education in Ukraine. He said though safety and security of the students have been ensured, their future is at stake and urged the government to take necessary steps to safeguard their future. (PTI)

Discussion on Supplementary Demands for Grants for Jammu and Kashmir for 2021-22 continues in the Lower House of the Parliament in the ongoing Budget session. Earlier, Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman presented the supplementary demands for the year 2021-22 totalling Rs 18,860.32 crore for the Union Territory and moved a motion seeking suspension of certain rules to allow the House to take up the discussion on the same day. 

Many states have requested extension of the compensation mechanism under the GST beyond June 2022, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday.

Under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) law, states were guaranteed to be compensated bi-monthly for any loss of revenue in the first five years of GST implementation from July 1, 2017. The shortfall is calculated assuming a 14 per cent annual growth in GST collections by states over the base year of 2015-16. The 5-year period ends in June 2022.

The compensation amount to be paid from the compensation fund is arrived at by levying cess on top of the highest tax slab on luxury, demerit and sin goods. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Sitharaman said the central government is committed to giving GST compensation to states/UTs for 5 years as per the Constitutional provision. (PTI) 

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented a Rs 1.42 lakh crore budget for the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir for the year 2022-23 in the Lok Sabha. The Minister also presented the supplementary demands for the year 2021-22 totalling Rs 18,860.32 crore for the Union Territory and moved a motion seeking suspension of certain rules to allow the House to take up the discussion on the same day. However, Congress MP Manish Tewari objected to the motion, stating that the Opposition needs adequate time for studying the proposals.

Trinamool member Sudip Bandyopadhyay, meanwhile, said the issue was discussed in the Business Advisory Committee and it was agreed that the discussion on the J-K Budget will be taken up two hours after the presentation. (PTI)

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman speaks in the Lok Sabha (Photo: PTI)

The Enforcement Directorate is investigating seven cases in which cryptocurrency has been used for money laundering and has so far attached proceeds of crime worth Rs 135 crore, Parliament was informed on Monday.

Law enforcement agencies have flagged usage of cryptocurrency by cybercriminals and cases investigated by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) reveals that the accused have laundered proceeds of crime (PoC) through the virtual currency, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha. (PTI)

The Rajya Sabha proceedings for March 17 have been cancelled in lieu of the Holika Dahan festival, news agency ANI reported. 

Parliamentarians on Monday demanded that the government formulate a policy to allow students evacuated from war-torn Ukraine to complete their medical education in universities in India.

Raising the issue during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, Congress member Rajmohan Unnithan (Kasargod) claimed that thousands of students from Kerala were still stranded in Sumy in Ukraine and demanded that the government take urgent steps to bring them to safety. Congress member Abdul Khaleque said the government should have taken steps earlier to evacuate students from Ukraine and not have waited till the hostilities broke out. YSRCP members P V Midhun Reddy and M Sreenivasulu Reddy demanded that the government take steps to relocate students rescued from Ukraine in medical colleges in India to allow them to complete their studies.

Reddy demanded that the government open more medical colleges to ensure that students can complete their education within the country. Congress member Kodikunnil Suresh wanted the government to waive off education loans taken by students pursuing education in Ukraine by invoking the clause of 'act of war' to save them from falling into a debt trap. (PTI)

Soon after the Rajya Sabha mourned the demise of four former members and tabling of listed papers and reports, CPI member Binoy Viswam, and some TMC members wanted to raise the issue related to the proposal to lower the interest rate to a four-decade low of 8.1 per cent for fiscal 2021-22 from 8.5 per cent in the previous year.

The Chairman, however, did not permit them to raise the matter during the Zero Hour. "You write to me. Send a request," he said. (PTI)

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla welcomed the Parliamentary delegation from Austria during a meeting at Parliament House annexe.


(PTI)

Around 21.5 million people, involved in the tourism industry, have lost their jobs due to the three waves of Covid-19 that first hit the country in early 2020, Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy said on Monday.

Reddy said tourist arrivals in the country were down by 93 per cent during the first wave of Covid-19 outbreak, 79 per cent in the second wave and 64 per cent during the third wave. "We have conducted a study on the impact of the pandemic on tourism. As per the study, there were 14.5 million job losses during the first wave, 5.2 million job losses in the second wave and 1.8 million job losses in the third wave," he said in Lok Sabha during Question Hour.

Reddy said 38 million people were involved with the tourism industry in the country before the pandemic hit the country. The minister said the tourism economy was down significantly during the three waves of coronavirus, which hit this sector badly not only in India but across the globe.

To help this sector, Reddy said, an interest-free loan of Rs 10 lakh is given to travel and tourism stakeholders and up to Rs 1 lakh to tourist guides. "I appeal to all state governments to help the tourism sector in whatever way they can," he said. The minister said due to the pro-tourists initiatives of the Narendra Modi government, India's rank in global tourist destinations has gone up by about 20 positions -- from 52 in 2013 to 32 in 2019. To encourage more international tourists, the government has already decided to waive the visa fee of the first five lakh arrivals, he said. (PTI)

Rajya Sabha member Sonal Mansingh on Monday flayed the huge discounts that were earlier being offered by liquor vendors in the city, and said there was a need to curb policies that cause pain to society. During the Zero Hour, Mansingh said, "I urge the government to take cognisance of this issue so that such policies which cause pain to society could be curbed."

Referring to the new excise policy of the Delhi Government and massive discounts that were offered on liquor, she said, "Public opposed it and staged protests at many places. But the Delhi Government remained unfazed. When the Delhi High Court took cognisance of this scheme, this scheme was closed in hurry". (PTI)

The government on Monday assured the Lok Sabha it will look into measures that can be taken so Indian students brought back to the country from Ukraine under Operation Ganga can complete their education.

Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan was replying to a question by Congress member Gaurav Gogoi who wanted to know if the government was considering working out "any policy or holding talks" with universities in countries neighbouring Ukraine to enable Indian students to complete their studies. 

 "When we have brought them, you remain assured that government will ponder over making arrangements, whatsoever is required, to enable them to become doctors in future," the minister said in response. "At present, it is time for getting them out of the shock. We are all engaged in that," the minister added. (PTI)

The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have adjourned and will resume at 2 pm. 

In the pre-lunch session, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the budget for Jammu and Kashmir. 

The government on Monday sought approval from Parliament to spend an extra Rs 1.07 lakh crore in the current fiscal, news agency PTI reported.

As per the third batch of supplementary demands for grants tabled in the Lok Sabha, approval is being sought for gross additional expenditure of over Rs 1.58 lakh crore. Of this, proposals involving net cash outgo aggregate to over Rs 1.07 lakh crore and gross additional expenditure, matched by savings of ministries/departments or by enhanced receipts aggregates to over Rs 50,946 crore. 

Speaking about the rising fuel prices, Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri on Monday said, 'When we saw that relief needs to be provided to consumers, the Prime Minister (Modi) slashed rates on November 5, 2021. We took some steps (and are) ready to take more. (But) nine states didn't do it.'

'Taxation is only one aspect, we've to provide relief to consumers at the point of consumption,' Puri was quoted as saying by ANI. 

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at the beginning of the session welcomed Parliamentary Delegation from Austria led by H.E. Wolfgang Sobotka, President of the National Council of Austria in House, on Monday, 

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has begun presenting the Budget for Jammu & Kashmir. She will also be presenting the supplementary demands for grants, demands for grants and demands for excess grants for J&K in Lok Sabha.

Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu on Monday informed, "The eight Department Related Parliamentary Standing Committees (DRSCs) of Rajya Sabha have held a total of 21 meetings for a total duration of 73 hours 33 minutes and examined the Demands for Grants of 18 Ministries encompassing 32 Departments."

"I am happy to share with you all that the average duration of these 21 meetings was 3 hours and 30 minutes per meeting which is the best in this regard so far. This marked an increase of one hour seventeen minutes per meeting, a rise of 56% over that of last year," he said. 

However, he noted, "there has been a decline in the average attendance of meetings this year from that of last year. I understand that the recent Assembly elections were a major factor that pulled down the attendance." -- ANI inputs

Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu praised the government's efforts to evacuate Indian students from Ukraine amid Russia's invasion. "A large number of Indian students in Ukraine were required to be evacuated. It was a very challenging task. The government of India rose to the occasion in evacuating Indian students as well as some students of other nationalities. These efforts are praiseworthy," ANI quoted Naidu as saying.

BJP MPs on Monday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Lok Sabha amid chants of his name, celebrating the party's resounding victory in four of the five states in the Assembly elections. 

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will be convening its Parliamentary meet tomorrow (March 15). The party has asked all its Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha MPs to be present at the meeting, ANI reported.

Owing to the improving Covid-19 situation, the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha began the second part of the Budget session simultaneously on Monday. 

The Congress party, CPI(M), RSP and YSRCP have given Adjournment motion notices in Lok Sabha and demanded a discussion over the education of Indian students evacuated from war-hit Ukraine, ANI reported.

According to news agency ANI, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will make a statement on Ukraine in both the Houses, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, tomorrow (Tuesday).

The second part of the Budget session in Parliament is commencing after the BJP swept four of the five states in the Assembly elections. On Monday, BJP chief JP Nadda, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, Union Ministers Anurag Thakur, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, Jitendra Singh, Arjun Ram Meghwal and other MPs of the party showed the victory sign as they arrived at the Parliament House.

Congress MP Manickam Tagore has given an Adjournment Motion Notice in Lok Sabha to discuss the reduction in the interest rate on employees' provident fund.

The Business Advisory Committees of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha convened at 10 am today. The second part of the Budget session will commence shortly. 

Congress MP KC Venugopal has given a Suspension of Business notice under Rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war and its impact, including the education of Indian students who have returned from the war zone, ANI reported.

Shiv Sena MP Priyanak Chaturvedi has given a Zero Hour submission in RS to discuss the depreciating value of the Indian Rupee, ANI reported.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be presenting the budget for Jammu and Kashmir, which is expected to be taken up for discussion in the post-lunch sitting of the House.

With the Covid-19 situation easing out considerably, both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha will have simultaneous sittings from 11 am, instead of the two separate shifts during the first part of the Budget session from January 29 to February 11.

Minister of Tribal Affairs of India Arjun Munda is expected to move the Bill to further amend the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 for inclusion of certain communities in the list of Scheduled Tribes in relation to the State of Tripura for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha.

In the Rajya Sabha, Munda will move the Bill to amend the Constitution (Scheduled Castes) Order, 1950 to omit Bhogta community from the list of Scheduled Castes in relation to the state of Jharkhand and the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order, 1950 for inclusion of certain communities in the lists of Scheduled Tribes in relation to Jharkhand for consideration and passing.

Minister V Murleedharan and MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to present the 29th Report of the Business Advisory Committee in Lok Sabha today.

Congress MP Manish Tewari gives Adjournment Motion has given Adjournment Motion in Lok Sabha to discuss the plight and future of the Indian students who have returned from war-torn Ukraine, ANI reported.

The Congress party has decided to raise issues like the alleged delay in evacuation of Indians from Ukraine, the future of students who came back from the war-torn country, price rise, border conflict with China and unemployment, among others, in the session.

The Opposition parties are also expected to raise the issue of the reduction in the interest rate on employees' provident fund. On Saturday, the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) decided to slash the interest rate on employees' provident fund from 8.5 per cent to 8.1 per cent.

With the second leg of the Budget session slated to start on Monday, the Congress appeared apprehensive on Sunday of other Opposition parties like the Trinamool Congress and the AAP not coming together to put up a united front against the government in Parliament.

At a meeting convened by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge is learnt to have expressed doubts that some parties may not join if the Congress convened a meeting given the changed political scenario after the Assembly election outcome.

Congress deputy leader in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma, sources said, then suggested that the party should first informally reach out to other parties before convening a formal meeting. It was decided that Congress chief whip in Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh would informally reach out to leaders of other parties to sense their mood. Read more

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the budget for Jammu and Kashmir in the Lok Sabha on Monday and it is expected to be taken up for discussion in the post-lunch sitting of the House.

The government has also listed the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill for consideration and passing in the Lok Sabha.

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