Keeping up with the tradition, the Narendra Modi-led government ahead of the general election will present the interim Budget in the Lok Sabha on February 1, which is widely expected to contain certain sops for farmers and middle class.

To be presented by officiating Finance Minister Piyush Goyal in the absence of Arun Jaitley who is unwell and has been advised rest, the interim Budget 2019 will be the last of the current NDA regime as the general elections are due in May this year.

The Government on Thursday held an all party leaders meeting to discuss important issues that are expected to come up during Interim Budget Session of Parliament 2019.

The interim Budget session will have a total of 10 sittings spread over a period of 14 days starting from today till February 13.

Addressing the floor leaders of parties in the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, “Government’s focus lies on issues of national importance and finding solutions to problems of the people. The country expects from all of us to perform our duties as Parliamentarians in a positive manner and we must deliver to the expectations of the people”.

A host of issues were brought up by the leaders during the meeting.

The Prime Minister assured that the issues raised by the leaders would be taken into consideration by the Government and given due importance.

The Government also requested all the parties, especially the Opposition, for their cooperation for the smooth functioning of both the Houses of the Parliament and assured that it was ready for a constructive discussion on every issue of national importance, as permitted under the Rules of Procedure.

There was a consensus across party lines on ensuring smooth functioning of the Parliament without disruptions and deadlocks to be resolved through constructive discussions in both the Houses.

Three important ordinances to be replaced as Bills are expected to be taken up in the Parliament during the Budget session, which are namely, the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Ordinance, 2019; the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019; and the Companies (Amendment) Ordinance, 2019.

Other important pending legislations required to be considered and passed during the Session are the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Amendment Bill, 2018; the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018; the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the Arbitration and Conciliation (Amendment) Bill, 2018; the New Delhi International Arbitration Centre Bill, 2019; the Consumer Protection Bill, 2018; the Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2017; the DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2019; the Personal Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019; the Jallianwala Bagh National Memorial (Amendment) Bill, 2018; the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 and the National Medical Commission Bill, 2017.

Forty-six Bills related to legislative business and two related to financial business are likely to be taken up during the interim Budget session, 2019.

While former finance minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram had presented the previous UPA government’s Vote-on-Account in February 2014, Jaitley presented a full budget in July that year.

As per practice, a Vote-on-Account or approval for essential government spending for a limited period is taken in an election year and a full-fledged budget presented by the new government.

Narendra Modi-led government scrapped a colonial-era tradition of presenting the Budget at the end of February.

(With agency inputs)