This Budget session, would be the session before upcoming Lok Sabha polls- expected to be held in April-May this year

The budget session will have total of eight sittings spread over a period of 10 days, starting from January 31

President Droupadi Murmu in her address to joint parliament sitting said that the new Parliament building has the fragrance of "Shrestha Bharat" and reflects the glory of India's culture and civilisation

The President said the new Parliament building was constructed in the beginning of Amirt Kaal - the period to make India a developed country by 2047

President Murmu said the government is making efforts to increase the profitability of agriculture and is focusing on people-centric development

Ahead of Parliament's last session before the Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Wednesday that the country is touching new heights of progress and its journey of "all-inclusive and all-round" development will continue with people's blessings

In his customary remarks to journalists before the Budget Session's start, Modi greeted them with "Ram Ram" (an invocation of Lord Ram) and noted that there is a tradition of not presenting a full budget before the polls

The prime minister also took an aim at opposition MPs for frequently disrupting Parliamentary proceedings, saying those habituated to creating a ruckus and disrobing democratic values should introspect as they meet in the last session before the polls

Modi said President Droupadi Murmu addressing a joint sitting of lawmakers and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presenting the budget on Thursday is in a way festival of women power

The Republic Day parade saw the showcase of women power and the first session of Parliament in its new building recorded the passage of the women's reservation bill, PM said in a reference to a host of developments under his government to boost women's participation in different sectors

The opposition however, criticised Prisident Murmu's address saying it was 'an election speech"

"They have written an election speech for the President to deliver. They have not talked about the things which they have not done", Congress MP Shahi Tharoor said

While BJP MP Dilip Ghosh defended his government and said that the youth should be asked about the speech, not the opposition

Budget session is expected to end on February 9