Union Budget 2026 Session Commences Amidst Health Spending Concerns and Political Tensions
The Budget Session of Parliament has officially begun, setting the stage for the highly anticipated Union Budget 2026-27. This session, which runs from January 28 to April 2 with a recess between February 13 and March 9, is already witnessing significant debates and demands from various stakeholders.
Health Advocacy Group Flags Critical Spending Shortfalls
As the budget presentation approaches, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA), a prominent health advocacy coalition, has raised serious concerns about the government's health spending commitments. The organization points out that despite promises made in the National Health Policy 2017 to increase public health spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2025, current expenditure remains alarmingly low at just 1.15% of GDP.
In a significant move, JSA has released a comprehensive demand letter endorsed by 350 organizations and individuals, outlining urgent budget priorities for the healthcare sector. This collective action underscores the growing pressure on the government to address what many consider a critical underinvestment in public health infrastructure and services.
Government Rejects Opposition Demands for Fresh Debates
Meanwhile, the government has firmly rejected the Opposition's demand for fresh discussions on two key legislative matters during the Budget Session. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju stated that both the VB-G RAM G Act, which replaced the employment guarantee legislation MNGREGA, and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls were already debated extensively in the previous parliamentary session.
This rejection sets the tone for what promises to be a politically charged session, with the government maintaining its stance on previously discussed legislation while the Opposition seeks to revisit these important issues.
Nirmala Sitharaman's Historic Budget Presentation
All eyes are now on Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is scheduled to present the Union Budget for 2026-27 on February 1, 2026. This will mark her ninth consecutive budget presentation and the third full budget of the Modi-led NDA 3.0 government.
The budget presentation comes at a crucial time when various sectors, particularly healthcare, are seeking increased allocations and policy support. The extended Budget Session, spanning over two months with a scheduled recess, provides ample time for detailed discussions and scrutiny of the government's fiscal proposals.
As the session progresses, stakeholders across sectors will be closely monitoring budget announcements, particularly in light of JSA's highlighted concerns about health spending and the ongoing political dynamics surrounding key legislative matters.
