Parliament's Monsoon Session To Begin From July 20

The monsoon session of Parliament will start in the new Parliament building on July 20 and is likely to conclude on August 11.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Saturday announced that the monsoon session will be spread across 23 days and will have 17 sittings.

"Monsoon Session, 2023 of Parliament will commence from 20th July and continue till 11th August. Urge all parties to contribute towards productive discussions on Legislative Business and other items during the monsoon session, tweeted Pralhad Joshi.

The new Parliament building, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 28, is set to host the upcoming monsoon session.

According to various reports, the main highlight of the session is likely to be on the bill that is likely to replace the Union government's ordinance giving more administrative powers to the Lieutenant Governor's office, against which AAP convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal is meeting Opposition leaders seeking support against the bill.

The Indian National Congress (INC) has yet to announce its stand on the bill. The ordinance nullifies the Supreme Court's May 11 judgment giving the Delhi government greater legislative and administrative control over "services" by giving the Lieutenant Governor (L-G) final say in the matter.

It is expected that the bill will be easily passed in the Lok Sabha, where the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) enjoys a clear majority. However, in the Rajya Sabha, where the current strength is 238 with seven vacant seats, the BJP-led government may face some resistance.

The monsoon session is typically the busiest session of Parliament, as it is when the government presents its annual budget.

This year, the budget is likely to be presented on July 26. The monsoon session is also a time when the government faces the most scrutiny from the opposition. With the AAP and Congress both opposed to the bill on the L-G's powers, the session is likely to be stormy.