29 January 2026·PIB

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi's remarks at beginning of the Budget Session of 2026

In this note

1. At a Glance

Customary pre-session media address by the PM at Parliament premises on 29 January 2026, framing the government's agenda for the Budget Session [1].
Five thematic pillars: confidence of 140 crore citizens, India–EU FTA, "Reform, Perform, Transform", India's democracy–demography combination, and accelerating reforms [1].
Relevant for GS-II (Parliament, executive) and GS-III (economy, trade); couples a domestic legislative event with a major external economic agreement.

Delivered ahead of the Budget Session 2026, which began 28 January 2026 with the President's joint address; Union Budget 2026-27 presented on 1 February 2026 [2][3].
Coincided with the India–EU Free Trade Agreement concluded at the India–EU Summit, Hyderabad House, New Delhi, 27 January 2026 [1][3].

Article 87 mandates the President's special address at the first session of each year and the first session after a general election; PM's pre-session statement is a convention, not a constitutional requirement [2].
Budget Session is traditionally held in two phases (recess for Standing Committee scrutiny of Demands for Grants); 2026 session: Phase I 28 Jan–13 Feb, Phase II 9 Mar–2 Apr, 30 sittings [2].
India–EU FTA negotiations resumed June 2022 after a 2013 pause; concluded January 2026 after nearly two decades [3].

Event: PM's media address at Parliament premises, 29 Jan 2026, 11:52 AM [1].
Issuing body: Prime Minister's Office, disseminated via PIB Delhi [1].
Session: Budget Session of the 18th Lok Sabha, first session of calendar year 2026 [2].
President: Smt Droupadi Murmu delivered joint address on 28 Jan 2026 [3].
Key slogan reiterated: "Reform, Perform, Transform"; metaphor "Reform Express" [1].
Key external deliverable cited: India–EU FTA — beneficiaries flagged: youth, farmers, manufacturers [1].
PLI investment figure cited in President's address: approx ₹2 lakh crore [3].
Labour reform reference: four consolidated Labour Codes [3].

Economic

FTA opens EU market (≈₹ trillions in bilateral trade potential) for Indian textiles, leather, pharma, auto components; phased liberalisation in goods, services, regulatory cooperation [3].
PLI cited as evidence of manufacturing pivot; ₹2 lakh crore investment marker [3].

Geopolitical / Strategic

FTA signals strategic decoupling diversification away from over-reliance on any single bloc; aligns with EU's Indo-Pacific Strategy [3].
Pact requires ratification by Council of EU + European Parliament and Indian Union Cabinet — implementation lag risk [3].

Legal / Constitutional

President's address under Article 87(1); Motion of Thanks debated subsequently — confidence test for government [2].
PM's pre-session remarks are extra-constitutional, performative; not part of formal House record.

Administrative / Governance

"Reform Express" narrative subsumes labour codes, GST rationalisation, ease-of-doing-business indices; Standing Committee recess used for Demands for Grants scrutiny [2].

27 Jan 2026 — India–EU FTA concluded at New Delhi summit; EU represented by Ursula von der Leyen (EC) and António Costa (EUCO) [3].
28 Jan 2026 — President Murmu's address to joint sitting [3].
29 Jan 2026 — PM Modi's pre-session media remarks [1].
1 Feb 2026 — Union Budget 2026-27 presented [3].

PM's Budget Session 2026 address delivered on 29 January 2026 at Parliament premises [1].
Phrase coined: "Reform Express" [1].
Triad reiterated: "Reform, Perform, Transform" [1].
President referenced "140 crore Indians" — figure used in the PM's framing [1].
Budget Session 2026 had 30 sittings in two phases (28 Jan–13 Feb; 9 Mar–2 Apr) [2].
Union Budget 2026-27 presented 1 February 2026 [3].
India–EU FTA concluded 27 January 2026 at Hyderabad House [3].
President's address cited PLI investment of ~₹2 lakh crore [3].
Three beneficiary groups flagged for India-EU FTA by PM: youth, farmers, manufacturers [1].
President's address under Article 87 of the Constitution [2].
18th Lok Sabha's session; first session of calendar year 2026 [2].

GS-II: Parliament & State Legislatures — sessions, devices for scrutiny; executive accountability via Motion of Thanks.
GS-II: India's bilateral & regional groupings — India–EU relations.
GS-III: Indian Economy — FTAs, effect on industry, employment, agriculture.

Possible question stems

"FTAs with developed-economy blocs are a double-edged sword for Indian agriculture and MSMEs." Discuss in the context of the India–EU FTA (2026).
Examine the constitutional and conventional significance of the President's address and the PM's pre-session remarks at the start of a parliamentary session.
"Reform, Perform, Transform" — critically evaluate the reform trajectory of the Union Government since 2014 with reference to manufacturing and labour.

Article 87 & Motion of Thanks — constitutional mechanics of the President's address.
India–EU Strategic Partnership & Trade and Technology Council (TTC) — institutional architecture behind the FTA.
Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme — sectoral coverage, outlays.
Four Labour Codes — Wage, IR, OSH, Social Security codes; notification status.
Union Budget 2026-27 — fiscal deficit, capex, sectoral allocations.
Standing Committees of Parliament — Demands for Grants scrutiny in recess.
India's FTA architecture — UAE CEPA, Australia ECTA, EFTA TEPA, UK FTA.

PM's pre-session media remarks are not constitutionally mandated; do not confuse with the President's Article 87 address.
India–EU FTA was concluded in Jan 2026, not yet in force — requires EU Council, European Parliament consent, and Indian Cabinet approval [3].
Budget Session usually has two phases; treating it as a single continuous session is wrong [2].
"Reform, Perform, Transform" is associated with NITI Aayog era / PM Modi, not a statutory framework.
President's joint address takes place in the Lok Sabha Chamber, addressed to both Houses assembled together — not delivered in Central Hall (post-new-building convention).