The Budget Session, 2005 of Parliament (Fourth Session of the Fourteenth Lok Sabha and the 204th Session of the Rajya Sabha) is scheduled to commence on Friday, the 25th of February, 2005 and subject to exigencies of Government Business, the Session will conclude on Friday, the 13th of May, 2005. During this period, the two Houses will adjourn for a recess for 24 days on Thursday, the 24th of March, 2005 to reassemble on Monday, the 18th of April, 2005 to enable the Department–related Parliamentary Standing Committees to examine the Demands for Grants relating to various Ministries/Departments and make their reports to the Houses. The Session will provide a total of 39 sittings – 20 sittings during first part of the Session before recess and 19 sittings during second part of the Session.
The Session will mainly be devoted to the financial business relating to Railway and General Budgets for 2005-2006 and discussion on the Motion of Thanks on President’s Address. However, essential Legislative and other Business will also be taken up during the Session.
The Railway Budget for 2005-2006 will be presented at 11.00 a.m. on Saturday, the 26th of February, 2005 and the General Budget for 2005-2006 will be presented at 11.00 a.m. on Monday, the 28th of February, 2005.
To finalise the Government Business for the first part of Budget Session, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Urban Development took a meeting with Secretaries/senior officers of the concerned Ministries/Departments in Parliament House on 21.02.2005. During the meeting, apart from Financial and Non-legislative Business (Annex –I), 7 Bills were identified for being taken up during the first part of Budget Session. This includes the three Ordinances, namely: the Patents (Amendment) Ordinance, 2004, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Ordinance, 2004 and the Central Excise Laws (Amendment and Validation) Ordinance, 2005, promulgated by the President during the current inter-session period. A list containing the Title and Purport of these 7 Bills which includes 3 Bills pending in the Rajya Sabha and 4 new Bills is at Annex II.
India being the largest Democracy in the World, the most spectacular and towering achievement of our country since independence has been the establishment of a vibrant and secular democracy, symbolizing the unification of the hopes and aspirations of its pluralistic society. To highlight this feature of our national life, the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs brought out, for the first time, a Tableau on “Parliamentary Democracy in India” during the Republic Day Parade, 2005 which I hope must have been witnessed and appreciated by the media.
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Annex –I
FINANCIAL BUSINESS
1. General Discussion on the Railway Budget for 2005-06.
2. General Discussion on the General Budget for 2005-06.
3. Discussion and Voting on the following Demands and introduction, consideration and passing of the related Appropriation Bills:-
(a) Demands for Grants on Account (Railways) for 2005-06.
(b) Supplementary Demands for Grants (Railways) for 2004-05.
(c) Demands for Grants (Railways) for 2005-06.
(d) Demands for Grants on Account (General) for 2005-06.
(e) Supplementary Demands for Grants (General) for 2004-05.
(f) Demands for Grants (General) for 2005-06.
NON-LEGISLATIVE BUSINESS
Discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address
Annex –II
BILLS LIKELY TO BE TAKEN UP DURING THE FIRST PART OF BUDGET SESSION, 2005
(i)- Bills Pending in Rajya Sabha
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1. |
The Seeds Bill, 2004
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Introduced on 9.12.2004.
The Bill was referred to the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Agriculture on 17.12.2004.
To provide for regulating the quality of the seeds for sale, export and import and to facilitate the production and supply of quality seeds to the farmers.
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2. |
The Coastal Aquaculture Authority Bill, 2004
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Introduced on 20.12.2004.
To provide for the establishment of a Coastal Aquaculture Authority for regulating the activities connected with coastal aquaculture in the coastal areas and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
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3. |
The Parel Investment and Trading Private Limited and Domestic Gas Private Limited (Taking over of Management) Repeal Bill, 2004 |
Introduced on 20.12.2004.
To repeal the Parel Investment and Trading Private Limited and Domestic Gas Private Limited (Taking over of Management) Act, 1979. |
(ii) - New Bills
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S.No. |
Name of the Bill |
Purport |
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1. |
The Patents (Amendment) Bill, 2005 |
To replace the Patents (Amendment) Ordinance, 2004 (No.7 of 2004) promulgated on 26.12.2004.
To amend the Patents Act, 1970.
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2. |
The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill, 2005 |
To replace the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Ordinance, 2004 (No.8 of 2004) promulgated on 29.12.2004.
To introduce a regulatory prepared frame work for the new pension system.
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3. |
The Central Excise Laws (Amendment and Validation) Bill, 2005
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To replace the Central Excise Laws (Amendment and Validation) Ordinance, 2005 (No.1 of 2005) promulgated on 25.1.2005.
To amend the Central Excise Act, 1944, rules made thereunder, certain notifications relating to exemption from duties of excise during a past period and to validate the actions taken under such notifications during such period.
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4. |
The Finance Bill, 2005
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To give effect to Government proposals regarding taxes. |
