The government may overhaul its budget process on Wednesday when the Union cabinet meets to decide on several changes, including merging the rail and general budget. Presided by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Union cabinet will consider merging the two big budget sessions, and advancing the general budget by a month. Finance minister Arun Jaitley met parliamentary affairs minister Ananth Kumar on Tuesday to discuss possible schedules of the winter and budget sessions of Parliament. “The winter session may start by early November and the next session may begin from January 24,” said a finance ministry official. While the rail budget is passed in less than a month, the other estimate of income and expenses requires three months for its passage.

Source: Hindustan Times September 20, 2016 16:52 UTC