Year End Review 2017: Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs

Year End Review 2017 Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs

Question: On which date the presentation of Union Budget was advanced for the first time in Indian Legislative history as a big financial reform so as to make full funds available to line Ministries for execution?
(a) 1st January
(b) 1st February
(c) 1st March
(d) 1st April
Answer: (b)
Related Facts:

  • On December 28th, 2017, Year End Review 2017: Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs was released.
  • The important facts relating to this review are as follows:
  • For the first time in Indian Legislative history, the presentation of Union Budget was advanced to 1st February.
  • This is a big financial reform so as to make full funds available to line Ministries for execution of their developmental projects.
  • Vote on Account was also dispensed with because of advancement of the Budget.
  • Also for the first time the General Budget and Railway Budget were merged in 2017 and integrated Union Budget was presented.
  • During the Budget Session, the Productivity of Lok Sabha was 113.27% and of Rajya Sabha was 92.43%; 18Bills were passed by both Houses of Parliament during the Budget Session 2017.
  • Passing of 4 historic Bills namely, the Central Goods and Services Tax Bill, 2017, the Integrated Goods and Services Tax Bill, 2017, the Goods and Services Tax (Compensation to States) Bill, 2017 and the Union Territory Goods and Services Tax Bill 2017 by both Houses of Parliament enabled implementation of Goods and Services Tax across the country w.e.f. 1stJuly, 2017.
  • In Monsoon Session 2017, Number of Bills introduced in Lok Sabha was 17 and 13 passed by both Houses.
  • A Special Discussion on 75th Anniversary of the ‘Quit India Movement’ was held in both Houses on 09.08.2017 to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the ‘Quit India Movement’.
  • For the first time the pledge of ‘Sankalp se Siddhi’ for building a New India by 2022 was taken with wide consensus among all parties during Monsoon Session 2017.
  • Extension of Goods and Services Tax (GST) to the State of Jammu & Kashmir was a historic achievement during Monsoon Session 2017.
  • 9 Bills introduced in Lok Sabha and 2 was passed by both Houses of Parliament in winter session.
  • Under the leadership of Shri Surendrajeet Singh Ahluwalia, the then Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Indian Goodwill Delegation of Parliamentarians consisting of 10 Leaders/Members of Parliament of various political parties (Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha) had visited Sweden, Norway and Israel from 29th May-6th June, 2017.
  • Shri S.S. Ahluwalia, the then Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, distributed Prizes for the 29th National Youth Parliament Competition, 2016-2017 for Kendriya Vidyalayas and 51st Youth Parliament Competition, 2016-17 for Delhi Schools.
  • At 39 different locations during the months of August – October 2017 75th Anniversary of Quit India Movement was celebrated.
  • A resolution to make a ‘New India by 2022’ was passed on the 75th Anniversary of India’s Independence.
  • This exhibition titled as ‘Naya Bharat Karke Rahenge’ was also organized.

Reference:
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=174959