The Union budget will be presented in parliament on February 1 (File)
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday listed the rules that need to be followed for the budget session of parliament, which is starting on January 29. He said the Houses will have staggered sittings like that in the monsoon session to ensure social distancing among members of parliament. The Question Hour, which was cancelled in the September session, will be allowed for a fixed duration of one hour, he added.
The Union budget will be presented in parliament on February 1. The budget session will be conducted in two parts. The first phase of the session will begin on January 29 with President Ram Nath Kovind's address and end on February 15. The second phase will run from March 8 to April 8.
"Question Hour will be allowed during parliament session for an already fixed time of one hour," Mr Birla was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
He said the Houses will have staggered timings. "Same as last time - Lok Sabha to sit at 4 PM to 9 PM and Rajya Sabha from 9 AM to 2 PM," he added.
All MPs will be requested to undergo coronavirus tests before the start of parliament session, he said, adding that arrangements for the screening will be made in parliament as well as near their homes.
The opposition had last year claimed that the Question Hour was cancelled as the government wanted to evade questions on China, the pandemic, and the depressed economy - a charge denied by the centre.
Seventeen members of the Lok Sabha and eight from the Upper House of parliament had tested positive, forcing the centre to cut-short the monsoon session.
The centre had also cancelled the winter session of parliament because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The opposition had said the session was cancelled to avoid questions on farmers' protests against the three central agriculture laws.
With inputs from PTI