Parl session closes with over 100% productivity

The budget session of Parliament, which ended on Friday, turned out to be one of the most productive in the recent past, cleared landmark bills and transacted business till the early hours of the morning, but failed to take up any Opposition-sponsored debates.

- Saubhadra Chatterji

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced the Lower House recorded 118% productivity or utilisation of time. Rajya Sabha's productivity stood at 119%. Both Houses worked overtime, especially to debate Waqf (amendment) bill and imposition of President rule in Manipur, bringing back the rich tradition of marathon debates.

The Lok Sabha discussed the amendments to the central waqf law for 13.53 hours, passing the bill after 2am. The Rajya Sabha spent 12.49 hours on the bill and approved it around 2.30am. In a rare display of parliamentary adherence, both Houses took up the debate on President's Rule in Manipur well past midnight, something that has not happened in decades.

The session, which started with President Droupadi Murmu's speech on January 31, came to an end after clearing 10 bills by both Houses. In contrast, the winter session of 2024 clocked 52% and 39% productivity in the Lower and Upper House, respectively, and could clear just one bill for enactment.