Budget Session advanced by a week

The Budget Session of Parliament has been advanced by a week and will now commence on February 16 with the address by President A P J Abdul Kalam to both the Houses.

The Session is likely to conclude on April 28, a Lok Sabha Secretariat press release said on Friday.

It said the Lower House would adjourn on March 17 and meet again on April 3 to enable the Standing Committees to consider the demands for grants of various ministries and departments.

The session was to have begun on February 23, the sources said, adding the sitting has been advanced in view of the impending elections in four states.