Parliament Budget Session LIVE: Lok Sabha discusses Railways demands for Grants; Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 p.m.

• lok sabhaMarch 16, 2026 13:21 Lok Sabha continues discussion on Railways demands for GrantsThe Lok Sabha continued its discussion on the Union Budget on the demands for grants under the control of the Ministry of Railways. Andhra Pradesh TDP MP Harish Balayogi, Madhya Pradesh BJP MP Ganesh Singh, and Bihar INC MP Tariq Anwar made their statements in the Lower House on Monday (March 16, 2026).

The Lok Sabha continued its discussion on the Union Budget on the demands for grants under the control of the Ministry of Railways.

Andhra Pradesh TDP MP Harish Balayogi, Madhya Pradesh BJP MP Ganesh Singh, and Bihar INC MP Tariq Anwar made their statements in the Lower House on Monday (March 16, 2026).

• March 16, 2026 13:01 Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 p.m.

• rajya sabhaMarch 16, 2026 12:42 India to soon start airplane assembly line: Rammohan NaiduReplying to questions by MPs during the Question Hour, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Rammohan Naidu told the House that the Brazilian multinational aerospace corporation Embraer has signed a contract with an Indian aerospace company and India will soon start an airplane assembly line. Mr. Naidu also told the House that additionally Russian Sukhoi company has signed an MoU with India’s HAL to manufacture its SJ 100 super jet in India. The Minister also replied to a question by Manoj Kumar Jha on pilot fatigue and FTDL rules.

Replying to questions by MPs during the Question Hour, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Rammohan Naidu told the House that the Brazilian multinational aerospace corporation Embraer has signed a contract with an Indian aerospace company and India will soon start an airplane assembly line.

Mr. Naidu also told the House that additionally Russian Sukhoi company has signed an MoU with India’s HAL to manufacture its SJ 100 super jet in India.

The Minister also replied to a question by Manoj Kumar Jha on pilot fatigue and FTDL rules.

• rajya sabhaMarch 16, 2026 12:29 Rajya Sabha takes up Question HourThe Rajya Sabha, after winding up Zero Hour, has taken up Question Hour. Union Minister for Jal Shakti C.R. Patil, replied to questions by MPs on ground inspection of JJM works. Union Minister for Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu answered questions by MPs during the Question Hour on the installation of advanced weather forecasting and air traffic management systems.

The Rajya Sabha, after winding up Zero Hour, has taken up Question Hour.

Union Minister for Jal Shakti C.R. Patil, replied to questions by MPs on ground inspection of JJM works.

Union Minister for Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu answered questions by MPs during the Question Hour on the installation of advanced weather forecasting and air traffic management systems.

• lok sabhaMarch 16, 2026 12:25 Lok Sabha takes up discussion on Railways Demands for GrantsThe Lok Sabha took up a discussion on the Union Budget on the demands for grants under the control of the Ministry of Railways.

The Lok Sabha took up a discussion on the Union Budget on the demands for grants under the control of the Ministry of Railways.

• rajya sabhaMarch 16, 2026 12:19 Trinamool Congress walks out of Rajya Sabha over EC's decision to remove Bengal's top bureaucratsWest Bengal’s ruling party, Trinamool Congress, staged a day-long walkout from the Rajya Sabha, protesting the Election Commission’s decision to remove the state’s top bureaucrats, including Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty, barely hours after announcing the assembly poll schedule.Raising the issue just before Zero Hour in the Upper House, AITC (All India Trinamool Congress) member Derek O’Brien condemned the poll panel’s midnight move to reshuffle the state’s top administrative hierarchy.“In the dead of night, the chief secretary, the principal secretary and the home secretary have been removed by the EC. They have all the power to do it,” Mr. O’Brien said, adding that his party was walking out for the day in protest.

West Bengal’s ruling party, Trinamool Congress, staged a day-long walkout from the Rajya Sabha, protesting the Election Commission’s decision to remove the state’s top bureaucrats, including Chief Secretary Nandini Chakravorty, barely hours after announcing the assembly poll schedule.

Raising the issue just before Zero Hour in the Upper House, AITC (All India Trinamool Congress) member Derek O’Brien condemned the poll panel’s midnight move to reshuffle the state’s top administrative hierarchy.

“In the dead of night, the chief secretary, the principal secretary and the home secretary have been removed by the EC. They have all the power to do it,” Mr. O’Brien said, adding that his party was walking out for the day in protest.

• rajya sabhaMarch 16, 2026 12:15 LoP Mallikarjun Kharge speaks on the LPG supply issue amid West Asia conflictLoP Mallikarjun Kharge, during the Zero Hour, spoke about the issue of LPG supply in the country amid the West Asia conflict. “This is affecting the middle class, restaurants, hostels and commercial users. During this current situation, the availability of LPG and price stability have become serious issues....Speaking in Lok Sabha, Union Petroleum Minister claimed that there is no shortage of LPG, but the ground reality proves the govt claims wrong...,” Mr. Kharge said. Union Minister J.P. Nadda, in response, said, “The LoP should know this is Zero Hour, and one has to conclude speaking within 3 minutes. This rule is for everyone.”“A Congress leader has been caught hoarding cylinders. They are inciting the peaceful people of the country...,” Mr. Nadda said.

LoP Mallikarjun Kharge, during the Zero Hour, spoke about the issue of LPG supply in the country amid the West Asia conflict.

“This is affecting the middle class, restaurants, hostels and commercial users. During this current situation, the availability of LPG and price stability have become serious issues....Speaking in Lok Sabha, Union Petroleum Minister claimed that there is no shortage of LPG, but the ground reality proves the govt claims wrong...,” Mr. Kharge said.

Union Minister J.P. Nadda, in response, said, “The LoP should know this is Zero Hour, and one has to conclude speaking within 3 minutes. This rule is for everyone.”

“A Congress leader has been caught hoarding cylinders. They are inciting the peaceful people of the country...,” Mr. Nadda said.

• lok sabhaMarch 16, 2026 12:11 Speaker Om Birla urged to take a decision on the eight suspended MPs of Lok SabhaHighlighting the suspension of eight MPs from the remainder of the Budget Session from the Lok Sabha, Congress MP K.C. Venugopal urged Speaker Om Birla to take a decision on their suspension. The Speaker, in reply, told Mr. Venugopal, that decisions by the Chair are never discussed in the House. Eight MPs -- Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Hibi Eden, C Kiran Kumar Reddy, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Manickam Tagore, Prashant Padole and Dean Kuriakose from the Congress and S Ventakesan from the CPI(M) -- were suspended from the Lok Sabha on February 3 for the remainder of the Budget Session over unruly conduct. The MPs were suspended amid a logjam between the government and the Opposition over the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi not being allowed to speak on former Army chief General (Retired) Manoj Naravane’s unpublished memoir.

Highlighting the suspension of eight MPs from the remainder of the Budget Session from the Lok Sabha, Congress MP K.C. Venugopal urged Speaker Om Birla to take a decision on their suspension.

The Speaker, in reply, told Mr. Venugopal, that decisions by the Chair are never discussed in the House.

Eight MPs -- Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Hibi Eden, C Kiran Kumar Reddy, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Manickam Tagore, Prashant Padole and Dean Kuriakose from the Congress and S Ventakesan from the CPI(M) -- were suspended from the Lok Sabha on February 3 for the remainder of the Budget Session over unruly conduct.

The MPs were suspended amid a logjam between the government and the Opposition over the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi not being allowed to speak on former Army chief General (Retired) Manoj Naravane’s unpublished memoir.

• lok sabhaMarch 16, 2026 12:03 MoS Jayant Chaudhary replies to questions by MPs in Lok SabhaMoS Jayant Chaudhary for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, replied to questions by Members of Parliament, during the Question Hour in the Lower House on Skill Centres of Excellence.

MoS Jayant Chaudhary for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, replied to questions by Members of Parliament, during the Question Hour in the Lower House on Skill Centres of Excellence.

• rajya sabhaMarch 16, 2026 12:00 BJP MP Rekha Sharma raises the issue of drug use in PunjabHaryana BJP MP Rekha Sharma, during the Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha, raised the issue of drug use in Punjab, a long-standing issue in the country. Highlight youth overdosing on drugs, the use of banned substances by kids in schools, Ms. Sharma, while sloganeering by Aam Aadmi Party, insisted the State government to take action to control the use of drugs in Punjab.

Haryana BJP MP Rekha Sharma, during the Zero Hour in Rajya Sabha, raised the issue of drug use in Punjab, a long-standing issue in the country.

Highlight youth overdosing on drugs, the use of banned substances by kids in schools, Ms. Sharma, while sloganeering by Aam Aadmi Party, insisted the State government to take action to control the use of drugs in Punjab.

• lok sabhaMarch 16, 2026 11:51 Govt did not organise Sansad Khel Mahotsav in U.P.: Mansukh MandaviyaSP MP Anand Bhadauria, during the Question Hour, expressed his displeasure on Opposition party MPs not being invited to the sports events organised in Uttar Pradesh under the Sansad Khel Mahotsav. Mr. Bhadauria questioned the Ministry on whether it had the knowledge about this matter, and if not, will the government investigate the matter. Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya, replying to Mr. Bhadauria that if the Samajwadi Party wants to organise Sansad Khel Mahotsav in the State, then why will the Ministry investigate it? Amid sloganeering from Opposition MPs, Mr. Mandaviya replied to Mr. Bhadauria that the Sansad Khel Mahotsav was organised by the NDA to connect with the youth and the government or the Ministry of Sports had no role to play in its organisation. Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Rakhsha Nikhil Khadse also answered questions by MPs on Progress and impact of Khelo India Mission.

SP MP Anand Bhadauria, during the Question Hour, expressed his displeasure on Opposition party MPs not being invited to the sports events organised in Uttar Pradesh under the Sansad Khel Mahotsav. Mr. Bhadauria questioned the Ministry on whether it had the knowledge about this matter, and if not, will the government investigate the matter.

Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya, replying to Mr. Bhadauria that if the Samajwadi Party wants to organise Sansad Khel Mahotsav in the State, then why will the Ministry investigate it? Amid sloganeering from Opposition MPs, Mr. Mandaviya replied to Mr. Bhadauria that the Sansad Khel Mahotsav was organised by the NDA to connect with the youth and the government or the Ministry of Sports had no role to play in its organisation.

Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Rakhsha Nikhil Khadse also answered questions by MPs on Progress and impact of Khelo India Mission.

• lok sabhaMarch 16, 2026 11:43 After days of disruption, Question Hour runs smoothly in Lok SabhaLok Sabha on Monday (March 16, 2026) took up the Question Hour without any disruptions for the first time in the second leg of the Budget session, which has been witnessing repeated protests by opposition members.As soon as the House met for the day, some opposition members demanded raising their concerns immediately. However, Speaker Om Birla said he will allow them to speak after the Question Hour at 12 noon.The lower house has witnessed sloganeering and repeated disruptions over opposition’s demand for a debate on West Asia crisis which has led to the LPG situation.During the first week of the second leg of the Budget session which began on March 9, the House has not been able to complete the Question Hour between 11 a.m. and 12 noon due to opposition protests.-PTI

Lok Sabha on Monday (March 16, 2026) took up the Question Hour without any disruptions for the first time in the second leg of the Budget session, which has been witnessing repeated protests by opposition members.

As soon as the House met for the day, some opposition members demanded raising their concerns immediately. However, Speaker Om Birla said he will allow them to speak after the Question Hour at 12 noon.

The lower house has witnessed sloganeering and repeated disruptions over opposition’s demand for a debate on West Asia crisis which has led to the LPG situation.

During the first week of the second leg of the Budget session which began on March 9, the House has not been able to complete the Question Hour between 11 a.m. and 12 noon due to opposition protests.

• lok sabhaMarch 16, 2026 11:38 Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya answers questions during Question HourUnion Minister of Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya, during the Question Hour in the Lowe House of the Parliament, answered questions by MPs on Trends in real wages and job quality.

Union Minister of Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya, during the Question Hour in the Lowe House of the Parliament, answered questions by MPs on Trends in real wages and job quality.

• rajya sabhaMarch 16, 2026 11:37 MPs raise matters with the permission of the chair during Zero HourMaharashtra BJP MP Medha Kulkarni raised the matter to make Right to Education more effective in the country. Ms. Kulkarni talked about students unable to afford uniforms and books due to its cost, kids dropping out since the schools are too far from their homes, and also because government schools do not have good as good as an infrastructure as private schools. The MP asked the government to resolve these issue to ensure Right to Education is effectively implemented in the country. AAP MP Sandeep Kumar Pathak raised the issue with Indian Railways and the need to make the body an independent one. From consumers paying a full amount for a sleeper seat but only able to book RAC, to the installation of KAVACH system on trains, Mr. Pathak insisted the Railways should be an independent body to run it efficiently.

Maharashtra BJP MP Medha Kulkarni raised the matter to make Right to Education more effective in the country. Ms. Kulkarni talked about students unable to afford uniforms and books due to its cost, kids dropping out since the schools are too far from their homes, and also because government schools do not have good as good as an infrastructure as private schools. The MP asked the government to resolve these issue to ensure Right to Education is effectively implemented in the country.

AAP MP Sandeep Kumar Pathak raised the issue with Indian Railways and the need to make the body an independent one. From consumers paying a full amount for a sleeper seat but only able to book RAC, to the installation of KAVACH system on trains, Mr. Pathak insisted the Railways should be an independent body to run it efficiently.

• lok sabhaMarch 16, 2026 11:28 "Scheme launched for SC/ST and women": Nirmala SitharamanUnion Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman, replying to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor during the Question Hour, said that the Stand-up India scheme was launched because the Start-up India scheme was largely restricting and befitting people in urban areas. The government, therefore, launched the Stand-up India scheme, which has benefitted people from the SC/ST communities and women, Ms. Sitharaman said.

Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman, replying to Congress MP Shashi Tharoor during the Question Hour, said that the Stand-up India scheme was launched because the Start-up India scheme was largely restricting and befitting people in urban areas.

The government, therefore, launched the Stand-up India scheme, which has benefitted people from the SC/ST communities and women, Ms. Sitharaman said.

• lok sabhaMarch 16, 2026 11:22 Union Minister Nirmala Sitharaman replies to questions by MPsUnion Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman replied to questions asked by Members of Parliaments during the Question Hour on New enterprises under Stand-up India scheme.

Union Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman replied to questions asked by Members of Parliaments during the Question Hour on New enterprises under Stand-up India scheme.

• lok sabhaMarch 16, 2026 11:18 Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat replies to MPs during Question HourUnion Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat replied to questions by the MPs in Lok Sabha during the Question Hour on projects for conservation and restoration at protected monuments.

Union Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat replied to questions by the MPs in Lok Sabha during the Question Hour on projects for conservation and restoration at protected monuments.

• rajya sabhaMarch 16, 2026 11:15 Rajya Sabha bids farewell to Ranjan Gogoi on completion of term

• rajya sabhaMarch 16, 2026 11:10 Rajya Sabha begins day's proceedingsThe Rajya Sabha began its day’s proceedings with Union Minister of State Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi making a statement regarding the action taken on recommendations contained in the 357th report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture concerning the development of niche tourism, including spiritual tourism, theme-based tourist circuits and potential tourist destinations under the Ministry of Tourism.

The Rajya Sabha began its day’s proceedings with Union Minister of State Petroleum and Natural Gas Suresh Gopi making a statement regarding the action taken on recommendations contained in the 357th report of the Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture concerning the development of niche tourism, including spiritual tourism, theme-based tourist circuits and potential tourist destinations under the Ministry of Tourism.

• lok sabhaMarch 16, 2026 11:04 Lok Sabha begins proceedingsThe Lok Sabha resumed its proceedings on Monday (March 16, 2026). The Lower House has taken up Question Hour

The Lok Sabha resumed its proceedings on Monday (March 16, 2026). The Lower House has taken up Question Hour

Published - March 16, 2026 10:59 am IST

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