New Delhi: Both Houses of Parlaiment are set to discuss on Thursday the Union Budget 2025-2026 that was presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday.

The discussions will begin at 11 am today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will reply to discussion on President Droupadi Murmu address in Rajya Sabha.

Today’s Lok Sabha session will mark its beginning with the Question Hour followed by laying of Parliamentary Papers on the table by several ministries.

Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal Khattar, Union State Minister of Power Shripad Yesso Naik, Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Shobha Karandlaje, Union State Minister of Road Transport and Highways Ajay Tamta, Union State Minister of Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol, Union State Minister of Food Processing Industries Ravneet Singh Bittu and Union State Minister of Housing and Urban Affair Tokhan Sahu will lay their papers on the table.

Congress Seeks Debate On US Deportations

Deputy Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha, Gaurav Gogoi has moved adjournment motion in Lok Sabha to discuss the deportations of over 100 Indian nationals by the United States government “carried out under conditions that are deeply distressing and humiliating.”

“This House must urgently address the issue to prevent further dehumanisation of our people and to uphold the dignity of every Indian, both at home and abroad,” the Motion reads.

Congress whip in Lok Sabha, Manickam Tagore has also moved adjournment motion in Lok Sabha to discuss the “inhumane deportation of Indian Nationals by the United States…and take all necessary steps to prevent the humiliation and mistreatment of Indian nationals abroad.”

A new Income Tax Bill is also likely to be introduced in Parliament today, which is set to replace the Income Tax Act of 1961.

Parliament Session Sees Disruptions Amid Heated Debates

The session has already seen disruptions, with heavy objections raised during Rahul Gandhi’s speech on Monday on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address. The Opposition also demanded a discussion on the recent Mahakumbh stampede tragedy.

PM Modi on Tuesday replied to the Motion of Thanks on President Droupadi Murmu’s address in the parliament and spoke about the development initiatives of the BJP-led government and efforts to improve the lives of the poor.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tabled the Economic Survey 2024-25 on January 31, projecting India’s GDP to grow at a rate of 6.4 per cent for FY2025.

The Budget session of the Parliament commenced on January 31, with President Droupadi Murmu delivering her inaugural address.

The first part of the session will continue till February 13. The session will reconvene on March 10 and continue till April 4.

New Delhi, Feb 6: The much-anticipated eighth edition of ‘Pariksha Pe Charcha’ (PPC) is set to return in an expanded format, featuring an array of distinguished experts and guests, alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Aimed at fostering a stress-free and holistic approach to education, the interactive session will be broadcast at 11 a.m. on February 10, promising engaging discussions on exam-related challenges, mental health, career choices, and the effective use of technology.

This year, the programme will feature an impressive line-up of personalities, including spiritual leader Sadhguru, Bollywood actors Deepika Padukone, Vikrant Massey, and Bhumi Pednekar, as well as sports icons Mary Kom, Avani Lekhara, and Suhas Yathiraj.

Other notable guests include nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar, entrepreneur Radhika Gupta, and digital influencer Technical Guruji, among others.

Together, they will provide students with insights on handling exam stress, maintaining focus, and achieving academic success.

PPC 2025 will consist of eight episodes, making it the most extensive edition yet. The event kicked off with an online multiple-choice question (MCQ) competition, held from December 14, 2024, to January 14, 2025.

Open to students from classes 6 to 12, along with teachers and parents, the competition allowed participants to submit questions, some of which will be answered directly by the Prime Minister. Selected winners will have the rare opportunity to interact with him.

Sadhguru will shed light on reducing exam stress through meditation and inner peace, while Radhika Gupta and Technical Guruji will discuss the responsible use of technology and Artificial Intelligence as study aids.

Mary Kom, Avani Lekhara, and Suhas Yathiraj will highlight the importance of integrating sports into daily life to manage academic pressure.

Superstar Deepika Padukone will address mental health issues, breaking stigmas, and building resilience, while actors Vikrant Massey and Bhumi Pednekar will highlight the significance of creative learning.

Nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar, along with Sonali Sabharwal and Revant Himatsingka of FoodPharmer fame, will highlight the role of proper nutrition in enhancing cognitive function and overall well-being.

The event will also showcase toppers from various competitive exams who will share their personal journeys and strategies for academic excellence.

With a focus on tackling exam stress and career-related concerns, the discussions aim to inspire students to approach education with confidence rather than anxiety.

As part of the build-up to the main event, the Prime Minister recently interacted with 30-40 students at Sundar Nursery in Delhi.

The grand event on February 10 will take place at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, where 2,500 selected students will participate in person. These students will receive exclusive PPC kits from the Ministry of Education designed to enhance their learning experience.

Additionally, the top 10 ‘Legendary Exam Warriors’ will be granted an exclusive visit to the Prime Minister’s residence, offering them a unique and inspiring opportunity.

Since its beginning in 2018, PPC has been a main highlight of the Prime Minister’s vision for a stress-free education system. Inspired by his book ‘Exam Warriors’, the initiative encourages students to approach exams with a positive mindset.

Over the years, PPC has evolved, incorporating new technologies and interactive elements to remain relevant and impactful.

The eighth edition has already set a new benchmark, recording an all-time high participation of 3.6 crore registrations, including 3.3 crore students, 2.7 lakh teachers, and 5.5 lakh parents.

With its enriched format and a stellar panel of experts, PPC 2025 is set to be a transformative experience for students nationwide.

New Delhi: The polling for high-stakes Delhi Assembly Elections concluded on Wednesday at 6 pm. The voting took place in all 70 assembly constituencies in a single phase. The fates of 699 candidates were sealed in EVM machines across 13,766 polling stations. The ruling AAP aims for a third consecutive full term, while the BJP seeks to form its government after being out of power for over 25 years in the union territory. Congress, which ruled for 15 years before being ousted by AAP in 2014, is fighting to reclaim its lost ground.

Former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal (New Delhi), current Chief Minister Atishi (Kalkaji), and former deputy CM Manish Sisodia (Jangpura) are among the key candidates who are in the fray for the Delhi Assembly elections.

Other key candidates include AAP’s Awadh Ojha from the Patparganj seat and Congress’ Alka Lamba, who is contesting against CM Atishi from the Kalkaji seat. BJP has fielded Ramesh Bidhuri from the same seat. Congress’ Sandeep Dikshit is contesting from the New Delhi seat.

In the last election, the AAP registered a landslide victory by winning 62 out of 70 seats. BJP had won 8 seats while Congress failed to open its account.

AAP received 53.57% of the total polled votes, 38.51% of voters had voted for BJP and Congress received 4.26% votes in the 2020 Assembly elections.

The results will be declared on Saturday, February 8.