The Union Budget for 2017 is to be presented on February 1, with the railway budget and the general budget being presented together for the first time since Independence. Earlier so far two budgets were presented. The general budget was presented first by the Finance Minister and then the Rail budget was presented by the Railway Minister.
But now for the first time after independence both the budgets will be presented at a time mostly by the Finance Minister. The general budget could be followed by the Rail Minister also.
Officials expect the move to hold the budget at the beginning of February instead of the end will allow for earlier allocation of funds for different government schemes and projects and lead to better implementation on the ground.
The budget session of Parliament will begin on January 31, on which day the findings of the Economic Survey will be presented.
The President will address a joint session of Parliament on January 31, and the first part of the budget session would end on February 9.
These decisions were taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA), held in the national capital.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley attended the meeting along with other Union Ministers. It was presided over by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
