There was a huge uproar on the very first day of the budget session of Parliament 2026-27, due to which the proceedings of both the houses were adjourned till 11 am tomorrow on Wednesday afternoon. The session began with President Draupadi Murmu addressing the joint sitting of both the Houses, but as soon as she mentioned the new ‘Developed India-Gram Development (VB-GRAM) Act’ that replaced the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), opposition MPs stood up and started protesting.
While the ruling party welcomed the new reforms by thumping the tables, the opposition called it a conspiracy to end MNREGA and demanded withdrawal of the law.
It is noteworthy that when President Murmu highlighted the Developed India-Employment and Livelihood Mission (Rural) (VB-G RAM G) Act during his address, the opposition MPs stood up and protested.
President Murmu said, “The Bharat-Village Development Act has been created for employment and development in rural areas. With this new reform, there will be a guarantee of 125 days of employment in villages.”
NDA-BJP MPs thumped their tables in appreciation, while opposition MPs stood up and registered their protest demanding withdrawal of the law.
Furthermore, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh stressed that the opposition will use all democratic means to demand the restoration of MGNREGA.
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Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju strongly criticized the opposition parties for creating ruckus during the President’s address.
Rijiju said that the country should be ashamed of this act of the opposition. He said that the country will never forgive Congress and its allies.
He said, “The country is embarrassed by what the opposition did while the President was addressing both Houses of Parliament. The country will never forgive the Congress and its allies. Can any responsible MP behave like this? When the 150th birth anniversary of Vande Mataram was mentioned and tributes were paid to Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, the entire opposition created an uproar. When the 350th martyrdom day of Shri Guru Teg Bahadur Ji was mentioned, the opposition created an uproar. When When Babasaheb Ambedkar’s 150th birth anniversary was mentioned, they created a ruckus. They are insulting him by raising slogans. I think the country will never forgive him.”
The VB-G RAMG Act was passed in the winter session of Parliament in 2025 and it replaces the 100-day employment guarantee with a 125-day guarantee. However, the opposition has criticized the law for removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name and ending the 60:40 fund sharing ratio between the Center and states.
The Economic Survey of India is scheduled to be presented on January 29, followed by the Union Budget 2026-27 on February 1.
The Economic Survey document, prepared by the Economic Division of the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance and produced under the supervision of the Chief Economic Advisor, provides the state of the economy and various indicators for 2025-26 (April-March) as well as an outlook for the next financial year.
The budget session will last for 30 meetings over 65 days and will end on April 2. Both Houses will adjourn for vacation on February 13 and will resume session on March 9 so that the standing committees can examine the demands for grants of various ministries and departments.