After a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, the schedule for the Budget Session of Parliament was announced on Thursday. The first part of the session is scheduled to be held from February 23 to March 16, while the second half will be held between April 25 and May 13. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu met with opposition leaders to discuss the dates, as assembly polls are slated to be held in five states this year. West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry will be having elections in the next few months.

ANI reported that President Pranab Mukherjee will address the session on February 23, and that the Union budget will be presented on February 29. The Railway budget will be presented on February 25. Reports also said that Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is hoping that the Goods and Service Tax Bill will be passed during this session. The bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in May 2015, but was not passed by the Rajya Sabha during the Winter session of Parliament. Proceedings in both Houses of Parliament were derailed by opposition members in the last session, after Congress leaders Sonia and Rahul Gandhi were accused in the National Herald case.