The Indian parliament is set to convene its Budget Session 2021 from January 29. The Budget Session will begin with President Ram Nath Kovind’s address at a joint sitting of both the houses followed by the unveiling union budget on February 1.

As the country continues to grapple with coronavirus pandemic with vaccination drives going on in the entire nation, this budget session will be all about strict COVID-19 protocols that are being put in place.

Also Read: Different sessions of Parliament in India: All you need to know

Here are the safety protocols to be followed by all the parliamentarians for the budget session to prevent transmission of COVID-19 infection:

Mandatory COVID-19 test

Vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu on
Wednesday made it compulsory for all the Parliamentarians and their respective staff
to undergo RT-PCR Test. 

Seating arrangement 

Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla last week announced that the seating arrangement for the budget of this year will be made
in accordance with prescribed COVID-19 safety measures and the Budget Session will be held
in two phases in which 12 sittings will be held in the first phase and 21
sittings in the second phase.

Seating arrangements will be made in
chambers of both Houses and galleries to ensure a gap of six feet between
chairs to promote social distancing.

Cleanliness and sanitisation in the premises

Concerned agencies are directed to
regularly undertake fumigation/sanitisation in the premises especially in Rajya
Sabha chamber, Lok Sabha chamber and central hall.

In view of COVID safety protocols, authorities are also directed to sanitise all the vehicles entering the parliament house premises before hand.

Masks and Social
distancing

All the members, staff and officials entering the parliament building during the session or otherwise are strictly instructed to wear masks, practice social distancing and adhere to other COVID-19 safety norms.

Meanwhile, ending the
speculations on whether the question and zero hour will be held in view of
COVID-19  safety norms, house speaker Om
Birla announced that both the segments will be restored during this Budget session.

Both the houses will
meet separately for tabling of President’s address and the economic survey will
also be tabled during this 30-minute sitting only.

However, the session
will conclude on April 8 with a recess in between from February 15 to
march 8