Five days after the prorogation of the winter session, the budget session of the federal parliament has been called starting May 7.

President Ramchandra Paudel summoned the new session as per the recommendation of the government. The Cabinet meeting on Wednesday recommended that the President summon the session starting next week. Pre-budget discussions, presentation and endorsement of the government’s policies and the national budget are major tasks for the new session. However, several crucial amendment bills to the Transitional Justice Act, Constitutional Council Act and anti-money laundering Act, among others, are also likely to be presented for endorsement in the upcoming session.

The government is also likely to present a bill on the Federal Civil Service Act and the Citizenship Act amendment bill.

As the pre-budget discussions need to be concluded 15 days prior to the presentation of the fiscal budget for 2023-24, the deliberations have to commence latest by May 8. Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire had made similar suggestions to the government, according to the officials at the Parliament Secretariat.

Rule 145 of the House regulations says pre-budget discussions must be completed 15 days ahead of the budget presentation. That means pre-budget discussions must conclude by May 14 so that the budget can be presented on the constitutional date of Jestha 15 (May 29 this year).

Commencement of the new session from May 7 means there will be ample time for the pre-budget discussion. “Now there will be adequate time for all the necessary deliberations before the budget is presented,” said Ek Ram Giri, spokesperson for the secretariat. Lawmakers will address the House on the opening day while pre-budget deliberations will start from the next meeting.

Once the pre-budget discussion completes, President Paudel will present the government’s policies and programmes to the joint session of Parliament.

The government will present the national budget for the upcoming fiscal year after the policies and programmes get through the House.