Parliament Budget Session HIGHLIGHTS: JPC report on Waqf Bill, new Income Tax Bill tabled in Lok Sabha

Rajya Sabha adjourned till March 10 at 11 AM.

Several opposition MPs stage walkout during FM Sitharaman's reply to general discussion on Budget.

Modi govt has not forgotten the film industry, in fact, it is liftingthe  entertainment sector, said Sitharaman in Rajya Sabha.

FM Sitharaman said Congress-ruled states not spending their funds on capex.

FM Sitharaman said no state has been ignored under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Our Budget estimates are not conservative, they are realistic, said FM Sitharaman in Rajya Sabha.

On Waqf JPC report tabled in the Lok Sabha, SP MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq says,"We opposed this bill under the leadership of our chief Akhilesh Yadav because this bill is not in the interest of the country... BJP wants to impose it and do politics to divert attention from the main issues... When they discuss it, we will again oppose it and if they try to implement it in any way, we will approach the Supreme Court to get justice."

After Opposition staged a walkout from Lok Sabha following the JPC report on the Waqf bill being tabled in the House, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said, "One night to read the 655-page report...We had hardly any time to present our objections. If you check the minutes of the meetings, you will find that there was no clause-by-clause discussion. We have been all part of many JPCs, and clause-by-clause discussion is most important, but it was bypassed. Under whose influence is the chairman acting? In protest to this, we staged a walk out today."

The proceedings of the Lok Sabha were adjourned on Thursday and will resume at 11 AM on March 10.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman introduces Income Tax Bill in Lok Sabha.

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) Chairman and BJP MP Jagadambika Pal on Thursday tabled the committee’s report on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha.

TMC MP Sushmita Dev reacted on the JPC report and said, "A select committee is formed so that every party’s MPs have the right to express their opinions. But what they have done is censor the dissent notes in the Waqf report they tabled. If the country does not even get to know what the opposition parties said or what their views were, then how can this be called democracy? Every opinion should be visible. This is wrong. We protested against this today in Rajya Sabha on behalf of TMC."

Union MoS SP Singh Baghel lauded JPC report on Waqf Bill and said, "I welcome this bill. For years, Waqf land, which was allocated for a specific purpose, has not been utilised accordingly. In fact, much of it has been encroached upon by people from the same community. After this bill is passed, illegal occupations will be removed, and the land will be used for education and other beneficial purposes for the community."

On the JPC report on the Waqf Bill, Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said, "We are not satisfied with the way the JPC report has been submitted... As per the rules, all the suggestions have to be presented verbatim... The minister is saying that everything is annexed... We will submit a privilege motion in this regard if needed..."

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju on Monday defended the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) report in the Rajya Sabha, rejecting the Opposition’s claims that dissenting notes were removed from the report on the Waqf Amendment Bill.

The Rajya Sabha witnessed intense uproar on Thursday as Opposition members protested against the Waqf Amendment Bill report. Amid the heated debate, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju accused the Opposition of misleading the House and disrupting parliamentary proceedings.

“The Opposition should not mislead the House,” Rijiju asserted, as ruling party members countered the protests.

Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday objected to the exclusion of dissent notes submitted by Opposition members in the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) report on the Waqf Amendment Bill, calling it unacceptable.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Kharge demanded that the report be sent back and reintroduced only after incorporating all dissenting opinions.

“It is not right to remove the dissent notes given by our members. Send the report back and present it again only after including all dissenting views. We will not accept a fake report on Waqf,” Kharge asserted.

The Rajya Sabha resumed its proceedings on Thursday amid loud slogans by the Opposition against the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) report on the Waqf Amendment Bill.

As the House reconvened, Opposition members voiced their protest, raising concerns over the report’s findings and its implications. Despite the uproar, the session continued, with the Chair urging members to allow a structured discussion.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned until 2 PM on Thursday following intense protests by the Opposition over the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) report on the Waqf Amendment Bill.

As soon as the proceedings began, Opposition MPs raised slogans against the report, leading to a disruption in the House. Speaker Om Birla repeatedly urged members to maintain order, but the protests continued, forcing the adjournment.

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) report on the Waqf Amendment Bill was tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

The report, which was initially scheduled to be presented during the Winter Session, was delayed to allow the committee to complete its assessment, particularly in northern regions. The findings include inputs from various stakeholders, along with dissenting opinions where applicable.

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday expressed deep concern over the increasing wildlife attacks in Wayanad, where seven people have lost their lives. Calling the situation “very worrisome,” she urged both the central and state governments to take immediate action and allocate funds to address the issue.

“The central and state governments must release funds to mitigate this problem,” Priyanka Gandhi said, adding that she plans to raise the matter in Parliament today.

Congress MPs, led by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, staged a protest in the Parliament House complex on Thursday, demanding protection for coastal and forest-bordering communities in Kerala.

Holding placards and raising slogans, the Congress leaders expressed concerns over policies affecting the livelihoods and rights of these communities. The protest comes amid growing opposition to certain environmental and coastal regulations, which critics argue could displace local residents and impact their way of life.

Congress MP Manish Tewari has raised concerns over the newly proposed Income Tax Bill, 2025, arguing that instead of simplifying the tax structure, the bill has made it even more complex.

Speaking on the issue, Tewari said, “The Union Finance Minister had assured that the new Income Tax Bill would be simpler than the previous one. However, instead of reducing complications, the new bill appears to be even more complex.”

Congress MPs have reached Parliament and are heading to attend the meeting called by Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi.

Minister of State in the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs of India L Murugan will move a motion to nominate seven members from the Rajya Sabha to the Committee of Public Accounts (PAC).

Congress MP Manickam Tagore has filed an Adjournment Motion in the Lok Sabha to discuss the relaxation of national security protocols for the Khavda Renewable Energy Project.

Senior politician Imran Masood has strongly criticised the government's approach, alleging that minority rights are being suppressed based on numerical strength.

He further compared the current situation to historical events, stating: "What Hitler did to Jews, this government is doing to Muslims."

• FM Sitharaman first announced a comprehensive review of the Income-Tax Act, 1961 in the July 2024 Budget. 

• The CBDT had set up an internal committee to oversee the review and make the Act concise, clear, and easy to understand. 

• The aim was also to reduce disputes, litigations, and provide greater tax certainty to taxpayers. 

• To this end, 22 specialised sub-committees have been established to review the various aspects of the I-T Act.

The much-anticipated New Income-Tax (I-T) Bill, 2025, announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Budget speech on February 1, is also expected to be tabled in the Lok Sabha today.

The bill, spanning 622 pages, aims to replace the existing Income-Tax Act of 1961 and is slated to come into effect from April 2026 once passed.

The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the Waqf Amendment Bill is set to present its report in Parliament today. Initially scheduled for the Winter Session, the report’s submission was delayed as the committee was able to cover only the southern regions at the time. Additional time was requested until the Budget Session to complete the assessment of northern regions.