Union Minister Kiren Rijiju speaks in the Rajya Sabha during the second part of the budget session of Parliament in New Delhi on April 2, 2026. | Photo credit: ANI
The budget session of Parliament went into a short break to reconvene on April 16, instead of the original plan to end on Thursday. It will now end on April 18. In two extended two-day sessions, Parliament will take up amendments to the Constitution (One Hundred and Sixth Amendment) Bill, popularly known as the Reservation for Women Bill, 2023.
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“The government will propose that the House be adjourned and we will meet very soon at a specific time for purposes already known to the members,” Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said.
Although he did not specify that the session is being extended to discuss amendments to the Women’s Reservation Bill, 2023, which seeks to ensure 33% reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies, he said: “The Parliament of India has made a promise to women in this country. We have full responsibility to fulfill that commitment.”
The minister’s clarification came amid repeated demands from the Congress to clarify whether the budget session would formally end on April 2, 2026. Soon after the House met for the day, Congress Chief Whip Jairam Ramesh sought clarification on media reports suggesting the session would be extended. Speaker of the House JP Nadda said the government would “get back to him”.
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Mr. Ramesh raised the issue again shortly before the Rajya Sabha began discussion on the Andhra Pradesh Reorganization Bill at 1 pm. He argued that uncertainty about the House’s schedule harms the functioning of Parliament and its transparency. He also said that Congress president and Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge had written to Mr. Rijiju requesting an all-party meeting after the election campaign or polls concluded on April 29. Accusing the government of pushing the legislation while implementing the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) for electoral gain, Mr Ramesh said the move was “completely uncalled for and all opposition parties seek wider consultation”, he reiterated.
In response, Mr Rijiju said the government had already communicated its proposed legislative program to members of the opposition and extensive consultations had taken place. He said that an important meeting is scheduled in the next two to three weeks and that almost 80% of the political parties participated in the consultation. The Congress, he added, was the only party that did not negotiate with the government.
Published – 02 Apr 2026 17:23 IST
